Police incidents divide borough

In the past nine months, two public incidents involving Plum police officers have stirred emotions and created controversy in the borough.

But current and former officials disagree on whether the incidents indicate trouble in the police department and, if there is any, the source.

'There's not a problem with the police department, I can assure you,' said Council Vice President Jay Adams. 'There's a problem with (Mayor) John Schmeck.

'Our police chief (Terry Focareta) has been a police officer for 30 years. John Schmeck sells ovens. He doesn't know squat about being a police officer.'

But former council President Valerie Yockey disagrees with that assessment. She said there is a problem, and that it's the chief of police. 'He is the head of the snake,' she said.

And there are people like Councilman Dave Vento, who said he is 'not so sure it's a problem with the majority of the officers.' He believes the problems might be with the management of the police department.

'I think the overwhelming number of officers are fine, upstanding people. It's a shame that a lot of them are being portrayed in the wrong way because of the actions of a couple,' he said.

Councilman Larry Lentz said he doubts there is 'an overwhelming problem in the police department that needs to be addressed' and that incidents involving individual officers 'are being addressed on a case-by-case basis.'

Focareta said the incidents involving Officers Erik Schlarp and Ryan Schneiderlochner 'were off-duty incidents, and I have a problem discussing personnel issues in public.'

In his three years as mayor, Schmeck has wrangled with police on several issues including scheduling, overtime and accusing three officers - including Focareta's son, Mark - of cheating on their entry-level police officer tests.

He said the problem is that Plum police are not accountable to the majority of the council. 'Like any employee group, if they're not accountable to anyone, you're going to have problems in the work force,' he said.

Schmeck said that based on their voting records, the councilmen who are trying to hold police accountable are Vento, Clem Barbarino and Don Knopfel.

Earlier this month, they voted to uphold Schmeck's suspension without pay of Schneiderlochner, who faces trial on a charge of harassment by communication in connection with a threatening telephone call Schmeck received at home Sept. 11.

Adams, Lentz, council President Al Flickinger and Councilman Chuck McMeekin voted to overturn the mayor's action.

Several people said the differences between Schmeck and the police date to his election in 1997, and several - including the principals themselves - said part of the problem is personal between the mayor and Focareta.

'The mayor is supposed to be the head of the police department, and when he got into office, I don't think his ideas were considered to be valid by the police department, so that caused animosity right away,' Vento said. 'He beat an incumbent mayor (Al Franci), and I think his ideas should have been implemented faster.'

Yockey, who claims she and her family have been harassed by Focareta and other officers, said that 'if you're the chief of police and the mayor you had a strong allegiance to, and who had a strong allegiance to you, is defeated by someone who is determined to correct what he sees as wrongs in the department, you don't want to be pushed aside.

'So you have John coming in, who was born in this community and was on the school board, and some of the changes he wants to enact are contrary to the beliefs of Terry Focareta. You're in a war here between two strong-willed individuals.'

Yockey further charged that the Plum Police Department contains 'have and have-not' officers, the have-nots being those who were on the force before Focareta became chief in 1992.

The haves, she said, are those hired subsequently, 'and, in my opinion, are young, impressionable police officers who are looking to the chief of police for guidance, to set examples,' Yockey said. 'Unfortunately, Terry wants to be in total control, so police officers who he can dictate to and do his bidding are then rewarded by driving the better police cars and with comp time and the best training programs.'

Focareta denied playing favorites and said he treats all officers equally.

Adams agreed with Yockey that 'there's a personality conflict' between Schmeck and Focareta.

'There are two strong personalities there, and neither one of them wants to give, I guess,' Vento said.

Schmeck said he has 'a problem' with Focareta's 'motives and his political agenda. His agenda has been to get involved in local politics, and I think it stinks.'

Focareta said it is 'no secret to anyone that Mayor Schmeck and myself have different ideas on the way in which police departments should be operating' and that the 'very deep-rooted' differences stem from the cheating accusations Schmeck made against the three officers.

Council and the borough's Civil Service Commission cleared the officers of any wrongdoing.

Focareta further noted that when Yockey was council president, 'this police department underwent a management review by the (state) Department of Community Affairs at her request, and the police department passed with flying colors.'

To the contrary, he said, the department found 'there was political interference in the daily operation of the police department. Unfortunately, it appears we'll go through some more issues because this is an election year.'

Asked if there were any proposed actions to solve any differences between the mayor and the chief or department, Adams said, 'Who's going to take the initiative• I can't intercede.'

Barbarino said he knows of none, 'but I would think that would be addressed in the future, being that we've had two highly publicized incidents.'

Yockey knows of none either, 'unless Terry would decide to retire, which would be a blessing to the community.'

Vento said council has made no moves toward conciliation because 'the majority of council right now, I would consider, is in favor of the chief instead of the mayor, and it's become political.'

Focareta said he thinks 'there have been several attempts. Apparently, they've been unsuccessful.' He added that Schmeck 'is my immediate superior, and certainly if he had an issue he wanted to discuss, I would certainly avail myself to him.'

Schmeck said he could work with anyone. 'I've proven that over my 18 years of public service as an elected official, but it has to be a two-way street.'

He added he is always available to discuss real or perceived differences with Focareta and all officers. 'There's never been a problem with communication.'

If, as the mayor alleged, there are strong differences among council factions, they have not prevented the body from achieving any objectives, in Lentz's opinion.

'I think, overall, there's been a lot accomplished,' Lentz said. 'It's not holding up anything that I know of.'

'There are times we get together, but there are times it's obvious we don't. When you have people who feel strongly about things, that's what happens,' Barbarino said.

Vento said differences among council members can occur in any community, but that in Plum, 'I'm afraid it's gone beyond politics and sometimes gotten too personal. I'd like to see that change.'

Adams said that council's infighting sometimes impedes progress, and that 'it's unfortunate we can't move this community forward. Plum is growing in population but is too provincial and too entrenched in local politics to look at the big picture and work together on issues that would improve the community.'

Pete Bishop can be reached at pbishop@tribweb.com or (412) 380-8518.