Newtown Officials Mum About Police Chief

NEWTOWN SQUARE– Newtown Township about the status of Dennis Anderson, particularly the question of, 'Where is he?'

For the past couple of months, Anderson has not been present at the regularly scheduled Board of Supervisors meetings in which he is normally seen. Instead, in his place, Lt. Chris Lunn and Lt. Mike Savitski have been the representatives of the police department at the supervisors meetings.

Some of the rumors circulating around town of the police chief include that he was suspended, suspended without pay, or on administrative leave. So, which is it?

Marple Newtown Patch spoke with supervisors Chairman Joe Catania, who couldn't release too much information as the issue is under personnel matters.

But this much is true: Anderson is still employed as the Newtown Township police chief and he is still getting paid.

Though he couldn't say if Anderson was in fact suspended or on administrative leave, Catania stated the supervisors received a recommendation in May in which Anderson has requested a hearing to appeal.

"He has requested the hearing to be public. It's his right to appeal," said Catania.

According to Catania, since police chiefs are not under the Police Bargaining Act, the proceedings for Anderson's hearing will fall under the Police Tenure Act.

The hearing has been tentatively scheduled for July 17.