LIGONIER, Pa. — UPDATE: The board has decided to fire Police Chief John Berger. Stay with Channel 11 News for more details from Tuesday’s meeting.
#BREAKING: Motion to fire Chief John Berger made and carried.
Berger has been fired from the Ligonier Valley Police Department. @WPXI
— Andrew Havranek 📺 (@Andrew_Havranek) May 9, 2023
There are still many unknowns surrounding the raid at the Ligonier Valley Police Department.
“I know there’s no desire to go back to life the way it was before Thursday,” said Department Attorney Mark Sorice.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Ligonier Valley police chief on leave after department escorted by federal agents
Last Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security and the Pennsylvania State Police raided the police department.
They confiscated Chief John Berger’s phone and police vehicle. Now, an internal investigation is underway, according to Sorice.
“We are trying to review the operations associated with his management of the department,” he said.
After the attack. the board placed Berger on administrative leave. During a regularly scheduled board meeting Tuesday evening, members will vote on whether or not to fire him.
“There is concern that he may not be able to continue in an effective capacity for the department upon his return,” Sorice said.
Sorice said they received no warning before the raid, but the investigation is only focusing on Berger.
What investigators are looking into is not yet clear, as the search warrants are sealed.
“Small town life, there are tons of rumors, but I chose not to speculate,” Sorice added.
The investigation remains ongoing and no charges have been filed.
But Sorice said the board needs to address it immediately to make sure the public knows the department takes issues like this seriously.
“There’s no doubt that the community is still protected, in fact, it’s doing better at this point given the circumstances,” Sorice said.
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow the news of Channel 11 Facebook i Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
MAIN STORIES FROM CHANNEL 11 NEWS
©2023 Cox Media Group
