Arnold’s police chief will continue to be paid while on administrative leave, Mayor Shannon Santucci said Tuesday.

City Council made that decision with a 4-0 vote Monday, Santucci said. Councilman Phil McKinley was absent.

Josh Stanga’s salary was set at $82,000 when council hired him as police chief in February.

Contacted for comment Tuesday, Stanga said he would not be making any comments or statements “until I am instructed I may do so.”

Stanga would not say if he has legal representation.

On Saturday, Santucci told TribLive that Stanga was placed on administrative leave Friday and Stanga was being investigated by state police and the state Attorney General’s office.

No information about the focus of the investigation has been released. Santucci said there is nothing further she can say at this time.

A state police spokesman said the agency does not confirm or comment on any open investigations until charges are filed.

The Attorney General’s press office said it “can neither confirm nor deny the existence of an investigation.”

Santucci said rumors Stanga had been arrested and the Arnold police station was raided by investigators are untrue.

Rob Haus is the officer in charge of the Arnold Police Department. Haus served as interim chief from Jan. 1, when former police Chief Eric Doutt retired, until Stanga was hired.

Stanga was Santucci’s choice to replace Doutt.

Doutt retired before Santucci, who was elected mayor in November, and the new council could vote to demote him, as Santucci had announced she intended to do upon taking office.

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