Survey says: disband Girardville police force
GIRARDVILLE – Operations of the Girardville police force have been suspended for the remainder of the year, council approved Wednesday night.
The move comes after Mayor Michael Zangari says 89% of community surveys received since last month called for it to be disbanded.
Council also voted to accept the resignation of two of its remaining patrol officers — Brandon Gonzalez and James Patterson — prior to the vote to suspend the department.
The resignations leave Gerard Daley, who was hired on a part-time, administrative basis last month, as the remaining department employee.
The police force has been marred with controversy over the past few years.
It has had five different leaders since 2020, one of whom — ex-Officer-in-Charge Fabrizio Bivona — filed a federal lawsuit against the borough following his firing last year.
Bivona’s successor, Jeremy Talanca, is facing a host of felony theft charges related to a car dealership he owned in Berwick.
Girardville, for the time being, will be covered by the State Police at Frackville. Discussions are ongoing regarding future coverage, if another municipality will cover the borough.
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