Three times in 1995, Larry Semenza was accused of assaulting his then-wife, who on one occasion filed for a protection-from-abuse order against him that was later withdrawn.
This history was not considered on June 15, 2005, when Old Forge officials voted 6-1 in favor of appointing Mr. Semenza chief of police, former Old Forge Mayor Tony Torquato said Friday.
"He was extraordinarily qualified," Mr. Torquato said. "He was a police officer for a long time when he was hired. He had three glowing letters of recommendation from the district attorney (Andy Jarbola), Judge (Michael) Barrasse and state police."
In May 2012, Chief Semenza, 48, was arrested and charged with the repeated sexual assault of a teen girl between November 2004 and March 2007. His second-in-command, Capt. Jamie Krenitsky, 34, also was charged. Both are suspended without pay, pending trial. Both have pleaded not guilty.
The charges against the borough's two top police officers and the recent suspension of Scott Twp. Police Chief James Romano, who is under investigation by the state attorney general's office, expose a lack of uniformity in the oversight of municipal police departments.
Supervision of local police departments in Pennsylvania is mainly left to municipal officials who may lack the experience or management skills to effectively oversee departments, experts say. In boroughs, the responsibility falls to the mayor. In townships, either the municipal manager or a designated supervisor polices the police.
"The oversight, it's all over the board," said Ron Stern, a local government expert with the state Department of Community and Economic Development. "It's up to the borough or the township on how they want to handle the hiring and the oversight."
In a township of the second class, which are the majority in Pennsylvania, it is up to the board of supervisors to create and maintain the department. Scott Twp. Supervisor David Makala is in charge of the police. He said his responsibility is primarily ordinary day-to-day operations, such as scheduling.
"If there is a problem within the department, the chief would take it to myself and then to the board," he said.
Under the state borough code, hires must be approved by council. Borough mayors have the power of suspension, but the act must be followed up on by council.
"I can't do the hiring or firing," said Dickson City Mayor Anthony Zaleski. "That goes through borough council."
To obtain a full-time position, the applicant must have state accreditation under Act 120. In Dickson City, part-time officers are thoroughly interviewed by Police Chief William Bilinski.
"We can't control the conduct of each officer," Mr. Zaleski said. "We try to employ the best officers we can."
The hiring of a chief should involve "a reasonably stringent vetting process," said Ray Hayes, former public safety director for the city of Scranton. "That falls to the governing officials. Some larger agencies will actually hire private agencies to help in the selection process."
Other oversight functions, such as performance reviews, also are often contracted out, said Elam Herr, assistant executive director with the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors. It is up to the officials whether such reviews are necessary, he said.
"There is no mandate that I know of (requiring) employee performance reviews," Mr. Herr said.
Mr. Torquato said that since he was self-employed, he had the luxury of interacting with borough officers daily. He said this interaction was key in vetting Chief Semenza. He believes the chief is innocent, and that he and his hiring will be vindicated. Given the chance, he said he would recommend hiring Chief Semenza again.
Contact the writer: jkohut@timesshamrock.com @joekohutTT on Twitte