By Police1 Staff
MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — A Pennsylvania officer who was suspended after attending church multiple times on duty has requested a public hearing on his suspension.
The Press and Journal reports that a date has not yet been set for the hearing sought by Officer Mark Hovan. Last month, Hovan received a 10-day unpaid suspension after attending church while on duty on separate occasions.
Last January, Hovan received a letter of reprimand from Chief George Mouchette after going to service in uniform and was told he wasn’t allowed to do it again. In August, he went to church in uniform on a holy day, leading to the Middletown city council’s vote that approved his suspension.
Hovan said that the suspension violated his religious freedom and that he was always available on call. Hovan alleges that he didn’t have time to attend church while off duty.
Mouchette said Hovan was not suspended for going to church, but for violating a direct order. The chief said Hovan failed to submit a request for time off if he needed to attend service.
“In fact, he was specifically told that if the needs of the community and the department allowed he could attend church. He was previously advised that if he was required to attend church services during his shift, he needed to request appropriate time off to attend. He never requested the time off,” Mouchette said in a statement.
Hovan contended that it was sometimes necessary for him to attend church in uniform in order for him to not miss service during holy days. Hovan said it was a part of being a practicing Catholic.
Hovan doesn’t deny that he violated the chief’s orders.
The hearing will determine whether to uphold the officer’s suspension. If the commission upholds the suspension, Hovan can appeal. If the suspension isn’t upheld, Hovan is to be credited with full pay for the 10-day period he was suspended and no charges will be recorded against his record.