Leet names Brian Jameson as new interim police chief

Leet officials have appointed a new interim police chief as the township continues its legal battles with the township’s former top cop.

Commissioners unanimously voted Aug. 8 to hire Brian Jameson as the police department’s temporary leader.

Jameson, 50, of Ambridge, has more than 26 years of law enforcement experience, along with degrees in criminal justice from Fairmont State University and Community College of Beaver County.

“I’m an advocate for the public,” Jameson said at the meeting. “I’m an advocate for children and public safety. I’m here to do the best job that I can. I understand the circumstances are difficult. I understand there is division. Hopefully that’s something that I can help with.”

Commission vice president Carolyn Verszyla said the township can only hire interim chiefs as it is involved in ongoing litigation with former Chief Michael Molinaro, who filed a federal lawsuit in June against the township.

Molinaro, a Leet officer since 2013 and chief since March 2021, said in the lawsuit the township violated his civil rights, claiming retaliation against his politics and his speaking out against reinstating an officer.

Council had voted to fire Molinaro at a workshop session July 25 and ratified its action Aug. 8.

The township filed a response to the civil suit last month claiming Molinaro violated Pennsylvania’s First Class Township Code when he attempted to fire Officer Nicklas Vigliotti and was insubordinate when instructed by to put Vigliotti back on the schedule.

The township also said in its legal filing that Molinaro attempted to steal money during the execution of a search warrant, deleting body cam footage and confronted a resident about a social media comment.

Molinaro’s attorney Joel Sansone said he and Monlinaro vehemently deny all the township’s allegations, and called them “smokescreens to cover up a political assassination.”

A court date has not been set.

Several residents at this month’s meeting asked questions about Molinaro’s firing, the retention of Vigliotti and the township’s investigation into both men.

Commissioners and solicitor Stephen Chesney reiterated several times they cannot go into detail due to the pending litigation and personnel matters.

“It’s very frustrating not being able to share the info that we have,” councilman Rody Nash told residents.

Chesney said all officers are given the same due process rights in any disciplinary situation.

“We’re being as transparent as we can under the circumstances,” Chesney said.

Change of chiefs

Molinaro was placed on paid administrative leave at an April 15 meeting. Officer Stephen Panormios was appointed interim chief at the same meeting.

Commissioners on Aug. 8 accepted Panormios’ resignation.

Verszyla said Panormios is leaving due to his full-time job as an Ohio Township officer and to allocate more time for his family.

“He has done an outstanding job for the limited time he was here,” Verszyla said of Panormios.

The motion to hire Jameson as interim chief was not on the original agenda, nor was the termination of Molinaro on the original workshop agenda.

Commissioners voted to add the items to the agenda at their respective meetings.

Resident Bill Wanto on Aug. 8 said township officials were not being transparent, and had a back and forth exchange with the vice president.

“There has been all kind of secrecy and all this stuff up here,” Wanto said. “I’m making reference to all the stuff that’s been going on, these amended agendas that are questionable at best.”

Verszyla said the township can amend its agenda, and commissioners did not meet with Jameson until Aug. 5. He was selected out of two candidates, and was the only one who could commit full-time, she said.

“We do everything to play by the rules,” the vice president said.

Melissa Melewsky, media law counsel for the PA NewsMedia Association, addressed the issue of adding items to an agenda when asked by the Tribune-Review about the township’s actions last month.

“The agenda requirements of the Sunshine Act allow agencies to add items to the agenda during a meeting, but that kind of action should be rarely used since it defeats the purpose of the law,” she wrote in an email. “Agencies insisted on inserting this provision into the agenda requirements, arguing that it would be rarely used due to the obvious inconsistency it creates with the letter and intent of the law.

“Agencies that use this kind of last-minute agenda addition should be ready, willing and able to provide ample justification for their actions to the public they serve, all of whom who were likely unable to witness and participate in such an important decision. I can’t say this violates the letter of the law, but it certainly conflicts with its intent to provide the public with advance notice of important votes.”

Jameson began his career as a part-time patrolman in Leetsdale in 1995 and served for about three years. He also served as a Crescent Township officer and currently works as a part-time officer at both Baden and Bell Acres.

Jameson, a Moon Area High School graduate, worked for about 24 years in the Ambridge Police Department and retired from there as a lieutenant in 2021.

He said after the meeting that he was excited about the new opportunity.

“I got the opportunity to retire from Ambridge a little bit early with a full pension, and I decided I wasn’t done yet,” he said. “I have something left in the tank.”

He takes over a township department with three full-time and three part-time officers. His starting wage was set at $30 per hour.