Girardville city council fires police officer who denies borough allegations | State

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The GIRARDVILLE borough council took official action on Wednesday to fire its suspended officer in charge, Fabrizio Bivona.

After entering a two-minute executive session, the board returned and unanimously passed the motion to dismiss.

Bivona was hired in March following the resignation of former chief Fred Lahovski.

After Wednesday’s meeting, borough attorney Arlen R. Day II said Bivona was notified Dec. 11 that he was suspended, effective that day.

In a letter sent to Bivona on behalf of the borough, Day said the suspension was due to your conduct regarding the issue with the evidence room, which includes refusing to provide the key to the mayor when asked. to do.

Bivona did not attend Wednesday’s meeting. Prior to the meeting, he provided a reporter with written responses to the borough’s allegations.

Responding to the allegation regarding the evidence room, Bivona said: The mayor’s (Judith Mehlbaum) order for the evidence room key which would have allowed and facilitated unattended access to the evidence room was inappropriate and illegal.

Bivona said access to the hall can be granted to the mayor and other borough officials, but must be overseen by a legal guardian, and there must be a legitimate reason to access the room to ensure the integrity of the evidence and the chain of custody.

He also wrote that giving unguarded access to the room would provide access to secure evidence, including firearms, dangerous weapons, drugs and fentanyl.

Day said another letter was sent to Bivona on Dec. 30, again suspending him for his conduct.

This letter from Day gave the reasons for the second suspension, including alleged conduct related to: failing to consistently punch his time card; work when told not to work; file citations against fellow officers when suspended; file wrongful citations against a fellow officer; make false and misleading statements; falsely presenting himself as chief of police; and failing to surrender badges, keys, and other borough property when told to do so.

Day said he couldn’t go into specifics about the suspensions due to the ongoing rounding investigation by the state attorney general’s office.

He also said further comments would be inappropriate as there may be ongoing litigation.

Bivona, in responding to the allegation that the criminal charges he filed against the two officers were not warranted, noted the active investigation in the borough.

You unilaterally shredded the US Constitution and due process and made a false declarative statement without judicial process to determine guilt or innocence, Bivona wrote.

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