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BUREAU OF POLICE 401 N CENTRE ST POTTSVILLE PA 17901 PH#(570)622-1234 FAX#(570)622-3524  |
| On this page: | The Chief of Police | The Captains | Getting Assistance | Citizen Complaint Procedures |
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The Chief of Police
Chief Joseph H. Murton, as the chief executive officer of the Bureau of Police, is accountable for the overall performance of the Bureau, and answers directly to the Mayor. He is responsible for budgeting resources to the various divisions and programs in order to achieve maximum effectiveness at minimum expense.
The Chief establishes the organizational structure of the Bureau to assure that supervision is maintained and personnel are accountable for their areas of responsibility. He overseas the creation and development of new programs and techniques designed to enhance the Bureau's ability to carry out its mission. Additionally he sets the standards for and provides the means of training and educating members of the Bureau to assure effective operations.
As noted below, the Chief is also responsible for disciplinary matters and investigations of misconduct within the Bureau of Police.
In addition to internal responsibilities, the Chief establishes and maintains relationships with other law enforcement agencies, the new media, and various government and private agencies and institutions.
Chief Murton has over thirty years experience with the Bureau of Police, having served as a Patrolman, Detective and Captain. Chief Murton is generally available during business hours Monday through Friday at City Hall.
The Captains
The Pottsville Bureau of Police currently uses two Captains to manage the day to day operations of the department. In the absence of the Chief they would be the executive officers in command of the Bureau, but each Captain has his own area of primary responsibility.
Captain Clarkson manages the Patrol Division and related operations, and also serves as the Downtown and Business Liaison Officer. He began his career with the Pottsville Bureau of Police as a Patrolman over twenty seven years ago.
Captain Moser supervises the Detective Division as well as the Drug Investigation Unit, Tactical Entry Team and Crisis Negotiation Team. He has been with the Pottsville Bureau of Police for nineteen years, serving as a Patrolman, Corporal, Detective and Sergeant prior to his promotion to Captain.
GETTING ASSISTANCE
The Pottsville Bureau of Police is dispatched via the Schuylkill County Communications Center. If you have an emergency, CALL 911, but for routine assistance during business hours Monday through Friday, call 622-1234 to reach the front desk. At other times calls to City Hall numbers will be automatically transferred to the Voicemail system, where messages for individual officers can be recorded. Requests to see a police officer on-duty during non-business hours must be routed through the Communications Center by calling 628-3792.
Call or come to City Hall if you need to:
Drop off copies of Protection From Abuse orders
Request trespassers on your property be arrested in your absence
Get copies of accident reports ($15 fee)
Pay a parking ticket
Reserve parking spaces (see Parking Guide for fees)
Request premises checks while you are away from home
Get general information
Locate or contact other City departments
As a matter of policy, copies of police incident reports, other than accident reports, are released only in response to subpoena.
Tours and presentations can be arranged by contacting the Chief of Police.
CITIZEN COMPLAINT PROCEDURE
Citizens who wish to report incidents of conduct unbecoming an officer or unlawful actions by members of the Pottsville Bureau of Police will be referred to the Chief of Police. The Chief of Police can be reached by phone at (570)622-1234, in person at City Hall, or by mail at 401 N Centre St Pottsville PA 17901. Once contact is made with the Chief of Police, the Chief will arrange for a meeting with the complainant to personally hear the allegations. The Chief may, at his discretion, conduct this verbal hearing with one or more ranking officers present.
If, after hearing the allegations of police misconduct verbally delivered by the complainant, the Chief of Police determines that, if substantiable, the conduct may constitute "Conduct Unbecoming an Officer" or a criminal violation, he will then make the necessary arrangements for the taking of a written statement which describes in detail the actions by the officer(s) involved constituting the misconduct. Prior to the actual taking of that statement the complainant must be informed of the criminal liability to which he subjects himself if he makes false statements during the ensuing investigation.
The written statement may be taken in any of the following ways:
In the complainant's own handwriting
By a stenographer
By a tape recording, later to be reduced to written form
When the statement is completed, it is to be signed by the complainant and notarized.
Once the aforementioned statement has been completed, the Chief of Police will contact the officer(s) involved for the purpose of a verbal hearing of their account of the incident at issue. If there is a possibility of criminal charges being brought against the officer(s) involved, then Constitutional requirements under Miranda vs Arizona will apply, and appropriate warnings will be given.
If the officer(s) acknowlege a substantial enough portion of the facts so as to verify the misconduct alleged, appropriate disciplinary action as determined by the Chief of Police will be taken. If the officer(s)' statement concerning the facts of the incident is at odds with the complainant's written version, the Chief of Police will commence an investigation into the matter, utilizing whatever resources he deems necessary to thoroughtly conduct such an investigation.
At the conclusion of the investigation the Chief of Police shall reach one of the following conclusions:
1: That all of the allegations of misconduct are true
2: That some of the allegations of misconduct are true
3: That all of the allegations of misconduct are false
In the event that some or all of the allegations are true, appropriate disciplinary actions will be taken, including, when appropriate, criminal prosecutions after consultation with the District Attorney.
In the event that the allegations are found to be false, the complainant will be so advised, and consideration will be given to instituting criminal prosecution against the complainant for filing False Reports.
