Post by KC on Sept 12, 2006 22:41:55 GMT -5
September 12, 2006 - A Uniontown police officer, who was recently reinstated to his post after an arbitration hearing regarding a prior suspension, was charged with perjury after an investigation into his testimony at the hearing.
Officer Andre Marcel Mason, 35, of Hiller was charged last week with perjury, false swearing and un-sworn falsification to authorities before Magisterial District Judge Mark Blair.
Mason, who was suspended without pay from the city police force a year ago, was reinstated without compensation for lost wages following an arbitrator's decision in July.
Mason, a patrolman for nearly a decade, was suspended for alleged conduct unbecoming a police officer, according to city solicitor Daniel Webster.
According to state police trooper Jamie Bauer of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Western Task Force, Mason perjured himself during three arbitration hearings held Dec. 21, 2005, and Jan. 10 and 23 of this year.
Bauer met with Uniontown police Chief Kyle W. Sneddon, Capt. Ronald "Crow" Kozak, Detective Jason Cox, Sgt. Wayne Brown and Webster on Aug. 21.
Bauer said Sneddon and Kozak said Mason was "a questionable officer at best" during his service with Uniontown and was disciplined on several occasions and ultimately suspended without pay pending discharge on Sept. 9, 2005.
Bauer said the arbitrator in the case said Mason was not due lost wages and specifically cited Mason's arbitration testimony.
"The fact that officer Mason was not forthcoming in his testimony about the termination of his prior employment at California Borough Police Department must also be considered," the arbitrator said in regard to the lost wages, Bauer said.
Bauer said that during the arbitration hearing on Jan. 10, Mason perjured himself when he stated he quit his job with California police.
Bauer said Mason was terminated from the borough department for conduct unbecoming a police officer and failure to perform acceptably during the probationary period, according to California police Superintendent Stephen Silbaugh.
Bauer also said Mason failed to report his termination on his employment application with the Uniontown police in 1995.
According to Silbaugh, Mason was present at the California Borough Council meeting when he was terminated and received a certified letter notifying him of the termination, Bauer said.
Bauer said police took Mason's employment application with Uniontown, as well as copies of his suspension letter and termination notice for California Borough, into evidence during the investigation.
Negotiations were under way between the city and police union, Teamsters Local 491, to determine whether he returned to work or would leave the job under terms of an agreement when the new charges were made. Teamsters Local Vito Dragone could not be reached for comment Monday regarding Mason.
If convicted on all charges, Mason could face up to 10 years in prison and $22,500 in fines, Bauer said.
A preliminary hearing has not been set.
www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17181905&BRD=2280&PAG=461&dept_id=480247&rfi=6
Officer Andre Marcel Mason, 35, of Hiller was charged last week with perjury, false swearing and un-sworn falsification to authorities before Magisterial District Judge Mark Blair.
Mason, who was suspended without pay from the city police force a year ago, was reinstated without compensation for lost wages following an arbitrator's decision in July.
Mason, a patrolman for nearly a decade, was suspended for alleged conduct unbecoming a police officer, according to city solicitor Daniel Webster.
According to state police trooper Jamie Bauer of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Western Task Force, Mason perjured himself during three arbitration hearings held Dec. 21, 2005, and Jan. 10 and 23 of this year.
Bauer met with Uniontown police Chief Kyle W. Sneddon, Capt. Ronald "Crow" Kozak, Detective Jason Cox, Sgt. Wayne Brown and Webster on Aug. 21.
Bauer said Sneddon and Kozak said Mason was "a questionable officer at best" during his service with Uniontown and was disciplined on several occasions and ultimately suspended without pay pending discharge on Sept. 9, 2005.
Bauer said the arbitrator in the case said Mason was not due lost wages and specifically cited Mason's arbitration testimony.
"The fact that officer Mason was not forthcoming in his testimony about the termination of his prior employment at California Borough Police Department must also be considered," the arbitrator said in regard to the lost wages, Bauer said.
Bauer said that during the arbitration hearing on Jan. 10, Mason perjured himself when he stated he quit his job with California police.
Bauer said Mason was terminated from the borough department for conduct unbecoming a police officer and failure to perform acceptably during the probationary period, according to California police Superintendent Stephen Silbaugh.
Bauer also said Mason failed to report his termination on his employment application with the Uniontown police in 1995.
According to Silbaugh, Mason was present at the California Borough Council meeting when he was terminated and received a certified letter notifying him of the termination, Bauer said.
Bauer said police took Mason's employment application with Uniontown, as well as copies of his suspension letter and termination notice for California Borough, into evidence during the investigation.
Negotiations were under way between the city and police union, Teamsters Local 491, to determine whether he returned to work or would leave the job under terms of an agreement when the new charges were made. Teamsters Local Vito Dragone could not be reached for comment Monday regarding Mason.
If convicted on all charges, Mason could face up to 10 years in prison and $22,500 in fines, Bauer said.
A preliminary hearing has not been set.
www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17181905&BRD=2280&PAG=461&dept_id=480247&rfi=6