Summary
In Skrzysowski v. Attardo, 63 Pa.Cmwlth. 636, 438 A.2d 1031 (1982), this Court determined that the trial court, when reviewing the township board of supervisors' decision to terminate a police officer's employment, properly considered whether the board had abused its discretion or committed an error of law.
Summary of this case from Johnson v. Lansdale BoroughOpinion
Argued September 17, 1981
January 6, 1982.
Police — Police Tenure Act, Act of June 15, 1951, P.L. 586 — Scope of appellate review.
1. In a proceeding involving the dismissal of a police officer, the scope of review of the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania under the Police Tenure Act, Act of June 15, 1951, P.L. 586, where the court below has taken no additional evidence, is limited to a determination of whether the municipality's governing body abused its discretion or committed an error of law. [637-8]
Argued September 17, 1981, before President Judge CRUMLISH, JR. and Judges CRAIG and MacPHAIL, sitting as a panel of three.
Appeal, No. 990 C.D. 1980, from the Order of the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County in the case of Joseph Skrzysowski v. Anthony Attardo, Walter Shandra and John Reardon, Supervisors of Pittston Township, No. 37 of 1977.
Police officer appealed dismissal to the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County. Appeal denied. TOOLE, J. Police officer appealed to the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. Held: Affirmed.
Harry P. Mattern, for appellant.
Patrick E. Dougherty, for appellees.
Joseph Skrzysowski appeals a Luzerne County Common Pleas Court decision which affirmed his dismissal from the Pittston Township police force. We affirm.
In July 1976 Skrzysowski was notified by letter of his dismissal from the police force for: 1) neglect of duty; 2) failure to comply with the Police Training Act; and 3) conduct unbecoming an officer. After extensive hearings before the Pittston Township Board of Supervisors, the Board affirmed Skrzysowski's discharge based on the letter of dismissal and four additional factors, which the Board set forth in its findings of fact.
Section 9 of the Act of June 18, 1974, P.L. 359, 53 P. S. § 748.
Our scope of review under the Police Tenure Act is the same scope of review as under the Borough Code or First Class Township Code, In Re: Appeal of Redo, 42 Pa. Commw. 468, 401 A.2d 394 (1979). Where the court below has taken no additional evidence we are limited to a determination of whether the Board abused its discretion or committed an error of law, Appeal of Zimmett, 28 Pa. Commw. 103, 367 A.2d 382 (1977).
Section 1 of the Act of June 15, 1951, P.L. 586, as amended, 53 P. S. § 811.
Skrzysowski contends that the lower court should have made a "de novo" review rather than limiting its review to whether the Board had abused its discretion or committed an error of law. This is clearly not the case. Under our holding in In Re: Appeal of Redo, supra the lower court's scope of review of a Board finding is "as the court deems proper," thus the taking of additional evidence is discretionary.
The lower court reviewed the evidence presented before the Board and held that the charges made in the letter were too broad to support the additional findings made by the Board. However, the court concluded that the reasons for dismissal outlined in the letter were specific enough to warrant Skrzysowski's discharge and further that these combined charges were supported by substantial evidence and warranted Skrzysowski's discharge. We agree.
The lower court concluded:
The termination letter of July 1, 1976, and the testimony presented at the hearing, clearly indicate that it was a combination of Skrzysowski's failure to obey orders of the Chief to satisfy the requirements of the Police Training Act, together with his failure to prosecute the Lumley case, and his impersonation of the Police Chief for purposes of fixing a ticket that were responsible for his termination.
The lower court clearly has made no error of law nor abused its discretion. Affirmed.
ORDER
The decision of the Luzerne County Common Pleas Court, No. 37, 1977, is affirmed.
This decision was reached prior to the expiration of the term of office of Judge PALLADINO.