North Wales Police Chief Suspended from Duty

North Wales Police Chief Barry Hackert has been suspended from his duties by North Wales Borough Council.

Hackert was appointed chief in October 2003.

According to Brad Schlegel of The Reporter, Officer Terry Hammerstone is overseeing the department.

North Wales Mayor Doug Ross and police secretary Gerry Fredericks were mum on further details.

All comment is going through solicitor Greg Gifford, according to the article.

In December 2008, Hackert was placed on administrative leave for "health and personal issues," according to Ross in an article by The Reporter.

North Wales Borough has a controversial history when it comes to police chiefs — including a lengthy list of lawsuits filed by previous chiefs against the borough.

In 2003, the borough reached a settlement with former chief Ken Veit in three lawsuits. The solicitor at the time said the "two sides came to a business settlement,without either party admitting fault."

According to The Reporter, Veit filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against North Wales after he was fired in 1999 for not obeying orders of Mayor Doug Ross.

Veit had also appealed the Commonwealth Court's ruling, which was in favor of North Wales Borough.

That same year, North Wales settled a lawsuit with the chief before Veit, Peter O. Paul

Paul, was removed from duty by Ross after being appointed acting chief in Veit's absence, according to the article.

North Wales settled with Paul in June 2003 for $19,000 in back wages.

Paul had also sued North Wales Borough, and was able to appeal the borough's decision.  The borough had an appeal pending with the Commonwealth Court, but that appeal was discontinued with the settlement, according to the article.