Update: Dormont Police Chief Richard Dwyer Resigns

Richard Dwyer, as interim administrative acting police chief by Council in July, has resigned.

"It's just my time to go," Dwyer said Wednesday morning.

Dwyer said that he hand-delivered the resignation letter to council members and Mayor Tom Lloyd yesterday about 4 p.m. Council Vice President Laurie Malka confirmed Tuesday night that the resignation is effective Dec. 30, although his last day in the office will be Dec. 14.

When council appointed Dwyer in June, he was told he might be needed for a three-to-six month period to help ease tensions between the administration and borough police. What Dwyer found was a political atmosphere where he said he felt undermined by Lloyd and antagonized by residents.

"The hostility is unbelievable," Dwyer said. "You can cut it with a knife."

"He feels that he cannot accomplish anything more with the atmosphere that has been created by the mayor,"  Malka wrote in an email to Patch.

"I, for one, would like him to reconsider and to stay with the department; however, he feels that he cannot accomplish anything more with the atmosphere that has been created by the mayor," Malka wrote.

"It's a real loss for the community, and even more so, for our police officers who were benefiting from his strong managerial skill and extensive knowledge in state and local law and police protocol. He has exceeded all of the goals we set when he was originally hired, and he helped to implement and correct many things we were told were lacking in our police department."

Though police officers initially took Dwyer's appointment in stride—to the point he said some told him they wished he had been chief before—he said a few have started filing grievances over his decisions, such as not being given a chance at overtime.

"I think they welcomed strong leadership at first," he said. "With the mayor's attitude, the policemen's attitude changed."

He claims Lloyd "flipped out" over a memo he sent out about police officers staying more than 100 feet away from polling places on Election Day, which is a state law. He said Lloyd told him that officers already knew that. But Dwyer said part of his job as chief is to issue memos to clarify issues, such as asking officers to make contact with pharmacy managers to let them know they were on alert after a string of pharmacy robberies in Castle Shannon and Mt. Lebanon.

Dwyer replaced Phil Ross, who served as police chief for nearly two years before being in March. Ross was in July to patrolman. that same month by the borough civil service commission, which said the borough's evidence was insufficient and not believable. But council to Allegheny County Common Pleas Court a few days later.

Earlier this month, in U.S. District Court against the Borough of Dormont and some of its officials, seeking reinstatement, financial restitution and punitive damages.

Dwyer stressed that Ross has acted professionally despite the politically charged atmosphere in which the two have worked.

"Phil has not given me one second of problem since I've been here," Dwyer said. "I can't say anything bad about him."

The relationship between Lloyd and Dwyer, though, has been contentious from the beginning.

Lloyd at the July meeting due to the interim basis for which he was hired in June at a rate of $5,550 per month, with no health benefits. Council President Kim Lusardi had to swear Dwyer in after the meeting.

Dwyer noted the inflammatory nature of borough politics, down to the fact that news of his resignation traveled so quickly beyond local officials Tuesday. He referenced a posting by resident Leah Petrilli in Patch's comment box ("Has Christmas come early to Dormont? Dwyer resigning effective Dec 14? Fact or rumor?") shortly after the letter went out.

Dwyer had one response to that: "Yes, Leah. There is a Santa Claus."

When contacted Wednesday, Lloyd said that council's appointment of Dwyer has created "more problems" for the borough and police department. He said the police department issues that have rocked the borough this year have created a negative image for the borough and resulted in constant fighting and disagreement.

"I'm glad he's going," Lloyd said. "I don't think he's been very helpful to the borough.

As for new leadership for the police department when Dwyer leaves, Lloyd said that the job should belong to demoted Chief Phil Ross. He pointed to the civil service commission ruling and said that council should not have appealed the findings.

"Hopefully, 2012 will see some respect come back to the borough," Lloyd said.

Check back with Patch later Wednesday for a story about what Dwyer feels he has accomplished while serving Dormont.