Vandergrift gives no update on police conduct investigation

Vandergrift residents didn’t get an answer on whether a borough police officer accused of unprofessional conduct will remain on the force, nor did they get any update on the borough’s investigation Monday.

Instead, borough officials adjourned to an executive session to speak about the matter privately, saying later only that the matter of Officer William Moore’s conduct remains the subject of an internal investigation.

Moore, a 20-year veteran of the department, is being paid while being investigated for his alleged conduct stemming from a April 17 incident at G&G Restaurant in Vandergrift.

After the executive session, Solicitor Larry Loperfito read a statement, referring to the incident involving Moore.

“On April 17, 2021, the Borough of Vandergrift was made aware of a police-involved encounter at a local restaurant which originated as a result of a 911 call. The Borough of Vandergrift has launched an investigation into the conduct of the officer. The investigation is continuing,” the statement read.

In the statement, Loperfito acknowledged comments from state Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who criticized Moore’s actions based on social media videos of the incident. When asked by the borough to conduct its own investigation, however, the attorney general’s office declined, saying it “did not observe any criminal conduct,” according to the statement from Loperfito.

The statement concludes by saying borough officials would have no further comment on the matter until the investigation is concluded.

Officials haven’t commented publicly since Moore was removed from the police schedule on April 19.

Vandergrift resident David Hill logged in to the virtual meeting and said he was disappointed council didn’t provide residents with an update on the investigation.

“They should have given the residents an update on the investigation. Once again, the council is keeping it all under the rug,” Hill said.

Footage of the April 17 incident was filmed by a Black customer being questioned by Moore.

Moore, 53, initiated a conversation with customer Marcus Townsend, 20, of Vandergrift inside the restaurant after responding to a Westmoreland County 911 report of a Black male smoking marijuana.

Townsend posted several videos on social media after the incident.

In messages posted to his Twitter account last week, Shapiro said Moore behaved unprofessionally.

“I’ve seen the unprofessional conduct by Vandergrift PA Officer William Moore, who cast aside the respect law enforcement must have for the people we serve when he harassed a man having lunch at a diner,” Shapiro wrote.

Vandergrift police Chief Joe Caporali was unavailable for comment after Monday’s meeting.

Moore has declined repeated requests for comment.

Moore was placed on paid leave in 2017 after being accused of assaulting and threatening a 14-year-old boy. Online court records show Moore pleaded guilty in Armstrong County Court to a summary account of harassment and paid a fine.

Vandergrift resident Chloe Kruse, who is seeking a Democratic nomination for borough council, commented after the meeting that she hopes council will consider Moore’s prior offense when deciding his employment status.

“The officer’s behavior and demeanor was totally unprofessional. I hope the borough will make the correct decision to provide our community with the officers that will serve and protect us. All of us,” Kruse said.

Once the internal investigation is completed, council members will decide whether Moore returns to duty.

Mayor Barbara Turiak would not comment on whether Moore remains off the police schedule. Council did not provide a timeline for the internal investigation during the meeting.