JACKSON TOWNSHIP – An attorney for a police officer facing accusations of misconduct said he was “forced” to step down.
The solicitor for Jackson Township told Newswatch 16 that Acting Police Chief John Saranchuk submitted his resignation Monday, and that former Kingston Township Police Chief James Balavage will take his place.
An attorney told Newswatch 16 that Saranchuk was pressured to step down and the resignation is not an admission of wrongdoing.
A scathing letter from the Luzerne County District Attorney’s office surfaced last week, citing a long list of alleged misconduct while working for both Jackson Township and Dupont Borough’s police departments.
Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis defended the allegations made in a statement released Monday afternoon.
“Our actions with respect to Mr. Saranchuk are based on our experiences with him and our investigations into the matters previously set forth. As District Attorney, I took an oath to uphold the laws of Pennsylvania and to protect the public. It is as much my duty to protect the public from the actions and inactions of Mr. Saranchuk as it is to prosecute crime. For Mr. Saranchuk’s counsel to suggest that the District Attorney should sit idly by while citizens’ rights are violated by his client or while his client repeatedly fails to ethically perform his duties makes it apparent that he has not done the slightest investigation into the facts we set forth. Should Mr. Saranchuk’s counsel decide to proceed with action rather than making allegations by way of a press release, our office is fully prepared to support and defend every action taken in this matter,” said Salavantis.