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North Franklin concludes sexual harassment investigation in police department

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The investigation into a now-resolved sexual harassment complaint in the North Franklin Township police department will cost taxpayers more than $28,000.

The bill from labor attorney Phillip J. Binotto of Southpointe who was hired to investigate the complaint lodged by a female part-time officer against a male co-worker came in at $13,918, township records show.

“The matter has been addressed and resolved,” township solicitor Gary Sweat said at a supervisors’ meeting Tuesday.

Sweat provided few details about the investigation, complaint and the type of discipline that was handed down against two patrolmen and the police chief who were part of the case.

Police Chief Ron Fox and Sgt. Jerry Cavanaugh were removed from the schedule and then reinstated about two weeks after the complaint surfaced in early May. A third officer, Rodney Bush, remained on paid suspension at the time.

Sweat said Tuesday two of the officers accepted their discipline, while a third filed a grievance against the township.

The woman who brought the complaint has not been publicly identified. The township’s insurance carrier handled a settlement with her, which called for the township to pay a $5,000 deductible payment, township officials said Tuesday.

Corporate Security and Investigations of Monaca, which assisted Binotto, turned in a bill to the township for its services in the amount of $9,119, township records show.

In May, the township directed Fox to develop policies on officers’ access to personnel records on computers and passwords. Another directive involved questions about on-duty officers watching television and viewing computers and other devices.

Fox was on vacation Tuesday, Sweat said.

Sweat said Tuesday all township employees have since attended a seminar concerning sexual harassment in the workplace. He said the township’s sexual harassment policy has been recently updated.

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