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Mahanoy City Police Chief Abruptly Retires, Police Corporal Suspended By Council

MAHANOY CITY — Two members of a police department in Schuylkill County are off the force. Mahanoy City Borough Council held an emergency meeting Wednesday...
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MAHANOY CITY -- Two members of a police department in Schuylkill County are off the force.

Mahanoy City Borough Council held an emergency meeting Wednesday evening where they accepted the abrupt retirement of the Mahanoy City police chief and voted to suspend a police corporal with pay.

This development comes as the Schuylkill County District Attorney says thousands of dollars seized by the police department are unaccounted for.

Mahanoy City Police Corporal Michael Dissinger told Newswatch 16 he had no comment as he left the borough building shortly after being suspended with pay from the police department.

Borough council made that decision at an emergency meeting, saying there is an investigation involving Dissinger. Council  would not say what it's about.

That did not sit well with residents who came for answers.

“There's tons of questions that I have, but when you get stonewalled, it's not right and it's completely unfair,” said Julie Fazio.

Council also accepted Police Chief James Kaczmarczyk's retirement notice; the chief unexpectedly stepped down on Friday.

“Let this letter serve as a notice of my intent to retire from Mahanoy City police, effective immediately,” read Thom Maziekas, president of borough council.

These developments come as the Schuylkill County District Attorney told council that Chief Kaczmarczyk and Corporal Dissinger failed a polygraph test in connection to a drug bust. The DA says the men were being questioned about money seized from a bath salts dealer two years ago.

Schuylkill County District Attorney Christine Holman says the police department cannot account for $10,000 taken during that arrest.

“There were several different stories as to where the money went, what happened to it.  And finally, it was decided the state police should be notified,” said Holman.

Council said it could not comment on the district attorney's allegations.

“This is what always happens. There's always no comment. I think as a taxpayer, we should be told what is going on instead of you having all these rumors going around town,” said one resident.

The Mahanoy City police department is left with only one full-time officer, but the mayor says there are six part-time officers who will work extra shifts and there will be no breaks in police coverage.

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