Attempted firing of a Leet Township police officer under investigation, police chief put on paid administrative leave

An investigation is underway involving the attempted termination of a Leet Township police officer.

The officer in question has yet to to be formally identified.

Commissioners established an investigatory committee and authorized attorney Lisa Mantella of the Pittsburgh-based Leech Tishman law firm to launch an investigation at a meeting March 14.

Minutes of that meeting were posted to the township’s website on April 18, along with a statement from commissioners announcing the investigation “into police matters brought to their attention.”

The statement does not say who is doing the investigation or what is being looked into.

It does, however, note the change in leadership in the police department.

Commissioners placed Chief Michael Molinaro on paid administrative leave at a special meeting on the morning of Good Friday.

Stephen Panormios of the Ohio Township Police Department was unanimously appointed as acting chief at the special meeting. It is unclear how long he may serve in that role.

When reached the afternoon of April 15, township solicitor Stephen Chesney said Panormios’ compensation was still being finalized.

Chesney said residents should not expect any reduction in police service as a result of the leadership change.

Attempts to reach Molinaro have been unsuccessful.

The March 14 meeting minutes give some details as to what may be looked at as part of the investigation.

Meeting minutes indicate an officer attempted to resign from his post on Jan. 24.

Commissioners rejected the resignation at the March voting session and directed then police Chief Michael Molinaro to place the officer back on the schedule “until the outcome of the independent investigation,” the minutes read.

The minutes also show Molinaro was directed to correct a separation record form “to reflect that the Leet Township officer in question was not terminated for a disciplinary record” and still works for the township.

The investigation committee includes commission president Martin McDaniel and vice president Carolyn Verszyla.

Attempts to reach both commissioners and Mantella Monday afternoon were unsuccessful.

Other township officials and police officers referred questions to Chesney, who stressed placing the chief on leave was not for disciplinary reasons.

“This is strictly to maintain the integrity of the investigation,” said Chesney.

The investigation may be wrapped up by the Leet commissioners’ next meeting, May 9.

It is unclear how much the investigation will cost.

Chesney said the township commissioners will “take any action necessary as a result of the investigation’s findings.”

Molinaro formally was named chief last June 2.

The deal was retroactive to March 9, 2021, with compensation to be $83,000 a year, according to township meeting minutes.

Among the reasons commissioners gave last year as to why Molinaro should be chief was he “cleaned the riff-raff out of Fair Oaks” and “saved many lives,” township documents read.

Molinaro was a police captain prior to the promotion.