MACUNGIE, Pa. — Borough residents, including a long-serving corporal of the police department, packed a borough council meeting Wednesday to protest a revised police internal affairs policy.
The amended policy was implemented immediately by a 6-1 vote; Councilwoman Megan Sell voted against the revision.
The policy change comes on the heels of a current internal affairs investigation being conducted by special counsel Patrick Harvey.
Details of the investigation were not shared at the meeting.
“This [revised] borough policy is not fair and impartial. Our department is completely transparent.”Macungie Borough Police Cpl. Michael Mullen
“This [revision] is a bit of a tune-up in order to clarify roles,” said attorney Christopher Gerber, a partner with Lamb McErlane, of West Chester, who represented the borough with the policy revision.
“The council [now] has the exclusive authority to determine how an investigation polices the police, not the mayor.”
Borough Police Cpl. Michael Mullen, a 24-year veteran of the department, told council he disagreed with Gerber’s summarization of the policy that now gives council authority to choose who and how an investigation is conducted.
“This [revised] borough policy is not fair and impartial,” Mullen said. “Our department is completely transparent.”
Council members fell silent upon being asked by Mullen if they had any questions for him.
“No questions?” he said. “I didn’t think so.”
'Personnel issues'
Several residents told the board they support Cpl. Mullen and the police department more than council.
Said one resident: “This is a heavy-handed way somebody wants to control the whole borough. Mr. Karboski wants total control of this town — of everything.”
Residents were irate that council would not share the basis for the revised policy, only that an internal investigation is ongoing.
“There are personnel issues that cannot be discussed here,” Gerber said.
“Details of an internal affairs investigation cannot or should not be shared with the public in order to maintain the investigation and protect the reputation of those involved.”
Following the meeting, Mullen said the policy revision was triggered by an incident in August when police responded to a call.
Police investigated and filed a report, he said.
'Not happy with the outcome'
“The call was originated by [Council President Ronald] Karboski,” Mullen said. “He made the complaint and said, 'You guys need to take care of this issue.'
"We did and it was taken care of. But he’s not happy with how it was taken care of.
"He went to the mayor [Ronald Conrad, who was not present at Wednesday’s meeting] to do an investigation. The mayor did and deemed the matter closed three months ago.
“I’ve been here 24, with a spotless record. So you can call this whatever you choose to call this. We have no problem cooperating with any investigation.”Macungie Police Cpl. Michael Mullen
“Now [Karboski] is not happy with that outcome. So now all of a sudden we have a new internal affairs policy, which makes the council in control of who gets disciplined when they get disciplined.
“I’ve been here 24 [years], with a spotless record. So you can call this whatever you choose to call this. We have no problem cooperating with any investigation.”
Gerber said the recommendations for the revised policy “have nothing to do with Mr. Karboski or an attempt to control this. It’ll be someone trained in internal affairs with no conflict of interest. We’re just applying the law.”
Karboski declined comment following the meeting.
Borough council’s next meeting is Monday, Dec. 1, at Macungie Institute, 510 E. Main St.
