Police dept. suffering from internal squabble
The Middletown Township Police Department is embroiled in a smelly drama that unfolded recently after an officer on the force sent four fellow officers manure in the mail.
Horse manure-tainted letters were sent to Policemen’s Benevolent Association Local 124 President Detective Wayne Bradshaw, PBA Vice President Detective Gerald F. Wiemer, Patrolman Stephen Dollinger and Lt. Michael Rubino.
The letters were supposedly Lt. Robert Morrell’s response to comments made by the officers about removing Morrell’s son’s name from a fund for ill children that the PBA sponsors.
Morrell, who recently resigned from the PBA, objected to the idea. Morrell’s son died of cancer in 1995 and the fund was created in his honor.
Bradshaw responded to Morrell’s letter by unsuccessfully bringing the county prosecutor in to investigate Morrell’s behavior. The four officers also filed disorderly conduct and harassment complaints against Morrell.
The prosecutor’s recommendation is for the incident to be investigated within the township. The officers are slated to appear in court June 19 for the charges filed against Morrell.
It is a shame that so much time and effort has been wasted on this matter by local and county law enforcement. The prosecutor’s time should not be spent dealing with the petty bickering of five police officers.
The five officers should stop wasting the time of the county prosecutor and local officials and end this squabbling.
With all of the conflict in the world today, our local police officers should be working with, instead of against, each other to ensure the safety of the public they are charged to protect.