The Cost to Fix The Car 11 Fender Bender

Tredyffrin Township Police Cruiser 11 is back on the road after an accident that cost the Chief of Police $746.23 and, arguably, his job.

Tredyffrin Police Superintendent Andrew Chambers' 16-year-old son was behind the wheel of Car 11 the day before Thanksgiving on a closed training course, with an instructor in the front seat ,when he got into what the repair costs would indicate was a minor fender bender. There has been nothing minor about the aftermath of the crash.

The chief's son is not a police officer who is authorized or trained to drive a police vehicle. He doesn't have a driver's license. He does have a learner's permit.

The car was towed from the training facility after the November 23 wreck and repaired at the Tredyffrin Public Works Department garage.

Repair Costs Reimbursed

Tredyffrin Township Manager Mimi Gleason confirmed to Patch that the police chief paid for the costs of the repair.

The bill broke down this way, according to Gleason: "Towing:  $45 (paid directly to Abel Brothers), Parts: $300 (paid directly to Pete's Auto), Mechanic's time:  $401.23 (reimbursed to Tredyffrin Township)."

Gleason says the repair work was done by a township mechanic in the Public Works Dept. Garage.

Township Solicitor Vince Donohue issued a statement on behalf of the Board of Supervisors last week stating that the chief had fully reimbursed the cost of the repairs.

The repair bills do not refect the not-so-hidden costs.

The official township statement followed the supervisors vote to suspend the chief for four days without pay. The suspension ended Wednesday, (Dec. 21) when the chief was due back to work.  But over the weekend the Chief abruptly informed the board he would retire at the end of the month.

Telling supervisors his decision was in the best interest of the township and the community, Chambers' announcement on December 17 essentially gave the board two week's notice that his 30-year career as a respected Tredyffrin police officer is over.

Several supervisors Patch talked to in the wake of the announcement on Monday all indicated they were surprised by the chief's decision. While making the announcement retiring Board of Supervisors Chairman Robert Lamina said it was not an option the board had even considered during its discussions of the accident and appropriate sanctions.

The board's official statement noted the suspension resulted from a "lapse in judgement"(Chambers did not report the accident to supervisors for 12 days) but it also expressed strong support for the chief who had "an unblemished record" until this happened.

The bill to fix the car was $746.23. The personal costs of the incident to the chief and his family can't be quantified in dollars and cents.

Patch will continue to follow developments in this story, including what it will now cost the township to launch a search for a new police chief.