Penn Hills manager says he 'regrets' hiring former Wilkinsburg officer under investigation in shooting death

After Penn Hills reversed course on the hiring of former Wilkinsburg officer Robert Gowans to its police department, Penn Hills Manager Scott Andrejchak said he regrets approving the hiring in the first place.

“I made a bad call,” Andrejchak said. “There were things that were overlooked.”

Penn Hills council held an emergency meeting May 17 that resulted in letting Gowans go after facing backlash from the community over his hiring in April.

Gowans is under investigation in the shooting death of 24-year-old Romir Talley on Dec. 22, 2019, in Wilkinsburg. Gowans was on duty as a Wilkinsburg officer. Allegheny County police say that Wilkinsburg police, in response to a 911 call, were in pursuit of Talley and that he fired one round at an unidentified police officer who returned fire.

The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office is investigating the case.

Gowans is also facing a federal lawsuit from the Talley family accusing him of using excessive force. The complaint states that Gowans shot Talley seven times, including once in the head.

Named as defendants in the lawsuit are the borough of Wilkinsburg, Gowans, police Chief Ophelia Coleman and Mayor Marita Garrett. There is also an unnamed female officer listed as a defendant, who the complaint said was acting as Gowans’ partner the night of the shooting.

In Penn Hills, the council and mayor are not involved in the hiring process within the municipality, said Mayor Pauline Calabrese.

“Mayor and council specifically, through our charter, are not permitted to get involved in hiring or firing,” she said.

Councilman Frank Pecora also added that it is not communicated to council members when someone is hired to the force.

“Unless the manager tells us, we swear them in ceremonially in a council meeting and congratulate them,” Pecora said.

Andrejchak said there is no “written protocol” to communicate hirings to the council or mayor.

Gowan’s investigation and lawsuit were discussed during the interview process, Penn Hills Police Chief Howard Burton said.

There were things that were overlooked and aspects of the situation that were misunderstood or not fully understood, Andrejchak said.

“Mistakes happen,” Andrejchak said. “Something got by me that shouldn’t have.”

Moving forward, he said, the muncipality will do better.

“We reacted to it, and now we have to move on as an organization,” he said.