Former Cecil police chief target of audit investigation
Cecil Township has confirmed its former police chief is under investigation for his handling of a department bank account, and that Washington County District Attorney Eugene Vittone and state police are reviewing “potential discrepancies” in the way in which the money was handled.
Cecil manager Donald A. Gennuso confirmed those details in his June 11 response to an appeal the Observer-Reporter filed with the state Office of Open Records of Cecil’s refusal to make the audit in question public.
Longtime Cecil police chief John Pushak was placed on administrative duty when the investigation began in February into the police department’s federal property bank account. He resigned April 1 after the township met with Vittone to discuss the findings of the audit.
The township has listed a string of reasons for refusing to disclose the audit findings, including one indicating Gennuso has been interviewed by state police as part of the criminal investigation.
The Office of Open Records is reviewing the newspaper’s appeal and expected to issue a ruling next month.