Newtown Police Chief Anderson Officially Resigns, Lunn Appointed as Acting Chief
A settlement agreement of $175,000 has been made between Dennis Anderson and Newtown Township's insurance company.
Newtown Police Chief Dennis Anderson at a Boy Scount Troop 315 Eagle Scout ceremony in Newtown Square.
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NEWTOWN SQUARE–The saga between Newtown Police Chief Dennis Anderson and Newtown Township officially came to an end on Monday evening at a Board of Supervisors meeting.
The supervisors unanimously accepted the resignation of Dennis Anderson at Monday's meeting and appointed Lt. Chris Lunn as the acting chief of the Newtown Township Police Department.
"As many of you know, Chief Anderson has not been acting as chief for at least since May 22nd," said Supervisors Chairman Joseph Catania.
According to Catania, both parties have drummed up a settlement agreement with a confidentiality clause. The clause, said Catania, "basically deals with not getting into the chief's claims against the township or the township's claims against the chief."
"Both sides are withdrawing those claims and settling their differences," said Catania.
The supervisors unanimously accepted the settlement agreement between Anderson and the township involving his resignation.
Anderson was paid–based on his salary of $100,000–during his time on administrative leave for approximately four months. The township has agreed to pay a portion–approximately $3,500–of his vacation pay.
According to Catania, the chief's claims against the township involved the township's insurance company, said Catania. And a settlement agreement of $175,000 has been made from the insurance company, not out of the township's general fund, withdrawing from all claims.
A motion was made by Supervisors Vice Chairman Dr. Ross Lambert to appoint Lunn as acting police chief. The motion was approved unanimously. Lunn told Marple Newtown Patch that the change should be a smooth transition.
"The transition should be fairly simple," said Lunn after Monday's meeting. "I've already been performing most of the duties of the chief during that time."
The issue between Anderson and the township has created somewhat of a rift in the department.
"It's been hanging over the department," said Lunn about the police chief issue. "I'm looking forward for the department to go back to business as usual. I'm ready to be chief."
Anderson was suspended from May 22 to June 22 with pay. Anderson had requested a hearing back in May to appeal the supervisors' decision. The hearing was postponed twice and then postponed indefinitely. In July, Township Manager Mike Trio wrote a letter of recommendation to terminate Anderson.
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Newtown Township Municipal Building
209 Bishop Hollow Rd, Newtown Square, PA -
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Newtown Township Police
209 Bishop Hollow Rd, Newtown Square, PA -
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Jim
7:06 am on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
That's a shame, he was a good chief, and a good human being.
JC
7:54 am on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Why did this happen in the first place?
ADMQ
8:58 am on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
ADMQ
All I want to know is why I had to pay his salary while he stayed home, why I have to pay him 175,000.00 plus 3500.00 for vacation, plus pay the insurance premiums that are paying him off. If he did something wrong, fire him. I can only believe that this was politically or personally motivated. And it is a very sad day for the taxpayers of Newtown Township.
david jordon
10:06 am on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
ADMQ
According to statements from the meeting last night, you the tax payer didn't pay him anything other than the vacation time he was owed and the four months he was on admin leave. I am not sure of the reasons for the leave, but according to some officers I have spoke with, he had lost all support from his troops, along with a few other issues. As far as the $175,000, that was an insurance payout. Twp didnt pay a dime for that! Had the township voted to not except his resignation (insurance settlemet) they wouldve been responsible for everything from that point forward. Township supervisors advised that it wouldve cost about 75,000 just for legal fees to take their actions to court. Win or lose. Then if he did lose he would be entitled to appeals, which would lead to further legal costs.
The way I see it, the township saved the taxpayers alot of money and moved forward with a chief the men will respect.
Local Businessowner
10:57 am on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Insurance money doesn't just fall off trees. It will everyone pays in the end!
Patti Wilson
11:46 am on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Policy calls for a $5000.00 deductible that has not been charged or billed as yet. Insurance Company paid their own attorney, and Twp paid its attorneys. The exact amounts paid are not totaled as yet.
Joe Catania
Sent from my iPhone
On Nov 27, 2012, at 11:22 AM, "Patti Wilson" <pawils@comcast.net> wrote:
Good Morning,
I have a couple of additional questions as a result of the information provided last night about the township's insurance coverage. I believe that Rich said that the township's general liability coverage issued by Hartford insurance is paying the settlement--did I hear this correctly--if not, what coverage/company is paying the settlement? Does the policy have a deductible that had to be met? If there was a deductible cost, what was the deductible paid? What are the policy limits? Finally, did the insurance company pay all legal costs associated with this settlement and the negotiation of the settlement? If not, what costs did the township incur?
Thank you--Patti Wilson
JMB
10:43 am on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
The recent Supervisor campaign was a forebear of what was to come .
Acting like Democrats.
Secrecy , buyouts etc...closed doors , " confidentiality"
Yet again , one has to wonder, " why would anyone spend over $30K to be a townnship supervisor "
Local Businessowner
10:59 am on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
edit: Insurance money does not fall off trees. Everyone pays in the end!
JDBroomall
12:06 pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
This is a public official that operates with no expectation of privacy in performance of his official duties. The details of whatever happened need to be disclosed to the public. This stinks of corruption and fraud. Disgraceful...
Larry
1:02 pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
This raises at least two other issues:
1. What has the Township done to make sure that its employees don't do anything again that generates a $175,000 settlement to an employee.?
2. Will the Township even be able to get liability insurance for the next time and at what cost?
Only the supervisors know what happened to generate a $175,000 settlment against it because they won't reveal the facts.
VNamVet
9:14 pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
JDBroomall,
Details will never be disclosed. Corruption and fraud: Absolutely!!!! Joe Catania, Ed Patridge and John Nawn are at the helm of it all!
Who receives 175k for a resignation? These supervisors make Linda Houldin look like gold. As far as the new chief being respected, well that's David Jordan's(aka- <<<< <<<<<<) opinion. I don't know too many chief's and bosses that are liked by their bosses'. And don't give us that "respect" line Jordan(G.....).
You cost the taxpayers a ton of money and Newtown square is once again the political laughing stock of the county.
Bill Sanders
3:28 pm on Wednesday, December 19, 2012
like pieces of a puzzle, here is another one.... http://www.henrymakow.com/whos-really-to-blame-for-school-shooting.html