Suspended Arnold police chief resigns

Josh Stanga, Arnold’s suspended police chief, has resigned from the force, Mayor Shannon Santucci announced.

“Officer Stanga will no longer be chief, or any part, of the Arnold Police Department,” Santucci said Friday. “He resigned in lieu of being terminated.”

Reached by phone Friday, Stanga declined to comment on his decision to resign. He said he will comment when his court case is completed.

Stanga was hired as chief in January 2024 but was placed on administrative leave following still-pending criminal charges against him for allegedly failing an “integrity test” staged by state police.

Stanga was charged with one misdemeanor count each of theft, misapplying entrusted property, obstructing administration of law, unsworn falsification to authorities and tampering with evidence.

That case is still being litigated. According to online court records, a pre-trial conference for Stanga is scheduled Oct. 16 in Westmoreland County Court.

“It was time for the city to make a move,” Santucci said. “It’s been a year.”

Tim Dawson, an attorney representing Stanga in his criminal case, did not immediately respond to TribLive requests for comment.

Santucci said there is a “very light” settlement that the city offered and Stanga accepted. She declined to disclose that amount.

“He signed off on an agreement that he would be let go and there will be no legal ramifications or anything of that nature,” she said.

Santucci said she wishes Stanga well.

Santucci said she will appoint Robert Haus as chief. Haus has been serving as officer-in-charge since July.

“He has been doing great,” Santucci said of Haus. “He’s gone above and beyond to help me through and try to maintain the department. I feel there’s a lot of positive changes coming. I feel very certain he’ll do a good job.”

There are five full-time officers in the city’s police department and three part-time officers. Santucci indicated a current part-time officer could soon become full time.

“Hopefully, we’ll get applications and fill our staff to eight full-time guys,” she said.

The city is focused on building its police department and retaining its officers, Santucci said. The police contract expires at the end of this year. She anticipates contract discussions to begin in the coming weeks.

Santucci said city officials had three meetings with New Kensington leaders about possibly regionalizing departments but those discussions have stopped.

“It was very clear after the third meeting they had no interest doing that,” she said.

New Kensington Mayor Thomas Guzzo didn’t immediately return a request for comment Friday.

“We are doing everything we possibly can to try to get the force back up to full staff. We will continue to try to make the department better,” Santucci said. “We’re trying to undo the negatives and do what we can to make it positive, and draw more applicants and keep the guys working for the department.”