Politics & Government

Dormont Council Demotes Police Chief Ross To Sergeant

Council did not explain their votes on the advice of the borough solicitor.

council demoted police Chief Phil Ross to sergeant on Monday night, but members declined to explain why.

Council voted 6-1, with Joan Hodson casting the opposing vote.

Ross, who is out on sick leave, declined comment when reached by phone.

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“This has become a personal battle and the we’ll let the attorneys resolve it," his wife, Michelle Ross, said at the meeting.

Mayor Thomas Lloyd said as senior officer, Ross would continue to serve as acting chief.

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“He never should have been demoted,” Lloyd said after the meeting, adding he hoped council members lived to regret their votes.

“He did the job he was required to do. He was an effective police chief,” Lloyd said.

Residents and business owners asked for an explanation, but got none.

Some 75 people were at the meeting, including police officers and firefighters.

“You have a very large crowd here that wants some answers … I think it would be in your best interest to somehow address it,” Jeff Stakich, a firefighter and resident.

Borough solicitor Deron Gabriel replied he advised council not to comment because it was a personnel matter.

Labor counsel will prepare a statement of charges and legal proceeding could follow, Gabriel explained.

Cassie Gillen, who owns Cassandra’s Florals, said she was worried about police morale.

With morale down, she said she didn’t think officers would go out of their way in terms of patrolling.

“I’m afraid for my business now,” she said.

Lloyd replied: “They’re still going to do the job that they’ve been hired to do, in spite of all the obstacles.”

Business owner Mary Pitcher also praised the police.

“There’s a lot going on in Dormont after dark that people who go to bed at 9 o’clock don’t see, including, but not limited to, hookers on the street … there’s drug paraphernalia … bottles of beer everywhere.
“It’s starting to become the South Side at night on the weekends,” she said.

It's important that a sufficient number of officers are on patrol, she said.

Fire Captain Bryan Taylor followed up, saying that since council did away with minimum shift requirements, two officers are tied up on each call.

“Mount Lebanon and these other borough will come to back these guys up on calls, but they’re not driving around to patrol the streets of Dormont," he said. "So when these guys are on traffic stops, drunk and disorderly (and) domestics, you have nobody patrolling the streets.”

“You continue to short (change) public safety and that is your first responsibility,” he said.


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