Police crime: Recent cases not the norm

It can be unsettling to look at the prevalence of local police officers charged with serious crimes in recent years.

In 2014, a former Lansford police officer was placed on probation in Carbon County court on a charge of corruption of a minor after previously pleading guilty.

According to his own statement, the officer gave alcohol to a teenage boy. Related charges of a sexual relationship with the boy were dropped during plea bargain.

The 41-year-old Nesquehoning resident was sentenced by President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II to serve 36 months probation.

Defense Attorney Nicholas Quinn told the court, "He made a bad decision. He has lost his career because of this."

Also in 2014, a 26-year-old Nesquehoning police officer was accused by Pennsylvania State Police of causing a crash that killed a physical therapy assistant and severely injured her husband, a second-grade teacher.

The Beaver Meadows resident allegedly sped 113 mph in a 55 mph zone on Route 209 near Jim Thorpe.

State police said they reconstructed the collision and report that the cruiser was in good working order.

In addition, nothing was on the road to cause a crash, police said.

Yet a woman is dead because, some believe, a cop appeared to have little or no regard for public safety.

Finally, a West Penn Township police sergeant was charged just before Christmas with falsely reporting an attack. She said she was assaulted and injured while on duty on Route 309.

Investigators have looked at evidence from a Taser the officer said she fired and have heard from witnesses who claim the officer was alone and not in the process of making a traffic stop as she claims.

Of course, our system is based on the premise that those charged are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Still, it's hard not to find these developments disconcerting.

Police officers are human and prone to make mistakes the same as anyone else. But at the same time, we hold law enforcement officials to a higher standard and offer them respect, in large part, based on their conviction to uphold the law and protect their fellow man.

Fortunately, the cases mentioned here are the exception, not the rule.

For the most part, police departments in our region are staffed by highly qualified men and women who take seriously their oath to protect and serve.

And if there's a bright spot to emerge from the charges and allegations in the above cases, it's that law enforcement is policing its own ranks.

Cops are being charged and arrested.

Nobody is above the law, not even men and women in blue.

So while details of recent charges and litigation are cause for concern, the good news is that the system is working, and alleged aberrant behavior, even among cops, is being addressed in the judicial system.

By Donald R. Serfass | dserfass@tnonline.com