The Associated Press
FOLCROFT, Pa. (AP) - Borough Manager Anthony Truscello has announced his resignation amid an investigation of the use of surveillance cameras to spy on police.
Truscello, 67, said Friday that he is resigning effective Oct. 1. He said his decision was sealed Tuesday after about 300 people came to borough hall in support of police privacy.
“To say my resignation is in the best interest of the borough would be a lie,” Truscello told the Delaware County Daily Times for Saturday’s editions. “The best interest of the borough is my continued work to make life better for borough residents.”
The Delaware County District Attorney’s Office is investigating Truscello in connection with the installation of the cameras. Truscello has denied wrongdoing, saying he hired a firm to install the surveillance devices to protect the borough’s interests.
He maintains that any surveillance was conducted because of complaints he received about police. Those complaints included concerns about a lack of a police presence, as well as claims that officers told residents to file private complaints and that some were sleeping on duty.
“I was doing my job,” he said.
With the exception of one officer who is no longer on the force, Police Chief Ed Christie says there have been no complaints about officers sleeping on the job in two years.
A private investigator hired by Christie found several pinhole cameras placed in smoke detectors - one in a hallway, one in the squad room and one in the evidence room.
One of the cameras had a microphone installed in it, making it capable of eavesdropping, according to an affidavit filed by county detectives in May.