Published: April 17, 2008 11:18 pm         

Charges threaten police officer’s job

HASTINGS — Northern Cambria Borough police Chief Kevin Stanek’s municipal police officer certification is in jeopardy after he was charged with two felonies, two second-degree misdemeanors and a DUI count.

Charges against Stanek and his stepson, Gregory Kline, were filed Thursday by Susquehanna Township police Officer Ronald Schilling as a result of a weekend altercation stemming from Kline’s DUI traffic stop.

Stanek, 48, was charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats, resisting arrest and hindering apprehension, DUI and summary harassment.

Kline, 31, was charged with terroristic threats, resisting arrest and DUI.

According to a clerk at District Judge Michael Zungali’s office, no preliminary hearing date has been set because Zungali has requested a change of venue due to a potential conflict of interest.

The four-page affidavit outlined the circumstances surrounding the pair’s arrest shortly after 2 a.m. Saturday.

According to the complaint, Schilling was in the middle of an unrelated traffic stop when he witnessed Kline’s vehicle travel north on Route 219, driving in the wrong lane.

Schilling said that he caught up with Kline’s vehicle in the Garmantown section of the township, and stopped the vehicle on Moss Creek Road after witnessing the vehicle strike a mailbox and repeatedly cross the yellow lines.

After Kline reportedly began to resist arrest, Schilling said he called for assistance from Northern Cambria Borough police Officer Amanda Fox. But instead of Fox arriving on the scene, Stanek arrived in the borough’s unmarked police cruiser.

“He approached me, screaming at me to release his stepson and he was taking him home,” Schilling said in the complaint.

Schilling said that Stanek “tried grabbing me and struck me in the chest with his fist.”

Schilling subdued Stanek with two bursts of pepper spray, and called state police troopers for assistance at Stanek’s request.

Troopers took Stanek to Miners Medical Center after a Breathalyzer test registered .19 percent alcohol – about twice the legal limit to drive.

The complaint said Stanek refused a blood test upon his initial arrival at the hospital, but changed his mind a short time later and asked for the test.

According to Schilling, troopers told Stanek that “he had already refused and would not be tested.” Refusal to take the test usually results in a one-year suspension of a driver’s license, regardless of the DUI verdict.

Judy Herr, supervisor of the state Municipal Officers Police Education and Training Commission, said if Stanek is found guilty of the felony or misdemeanor charges, his certification will be revoked.

“He is still in our system a certified officer until there is a conviction,” Herr said. “Felonies or anything greater than a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by more than one year (in jail) on a police officer’s record matter.

“As long as one of those convictions is on his record, he can’t be a police officer.”

Stanek has been a member of the force for more than 20 years and has led the 24/7 department to being one of the few in the state to receive state and national accreditations.

Additionally, Stanek was instrumental in bringing the first COPS in Schools effort to the Northern Cambria School District and, within the last year, the arrival of the borough’s first K-9 officer, “Dax,” to the force.

Herr said that, if Stanek is convicted, he will not be the first officer to have his certification revoked.

“Unfortunately, it does happen for many reasons,” Herr said. “Police officers make mistakes too, have bad judgment and make bad decisions.

“But because of their status and position, they are held to a higher standard of conduct.”

Herr said the only way to be reinstated is through a pardon or by having one’s record expunged.

“Many times, they won’t consider expungement or a governor’s pardon for years,” Herr said.

“They want to see if there is a pattern.”

     

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