By Rich Cholodofsky
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
PITTSBURGH — The two top administrators at Westmoreland County Prison will be suspended without pay for delivering a television to a private residence last month in a county-owned vehicle.
The county prison board at the conclusion of an hour-long, closed-door session yesterday ordered Warden John Walton off the job for three days and Deputy Warden Steven Cmar to be on leave for two days.
Both men declined to comment.
“It is appropriate discipline. Not only did they break the county’s policies, but they betrayed the public’s trust,” said Commissioner Ted Kopas.
County commissioners last week were sent pictures of Walton, Cmar and another man moving a television from a county vehicle into Cmar’s Rostraver home on Feb. 11.
Prison board members said Walton claimed the 17-mile trip from the jail in Hempfield was taken over the lunch hour. But officials determined the trip violated county policy, which prohibits the use of government vehicles for personal use.
This is the first suspension for Walton and Cmar since they were hired in summer 2003. Walton is paid $74,847 annually. Cmar receives a yearly salary of $64,391.
Human Resources Director Charles Dominick said officials have yet to decide when and how the suspensions would be implemented.
“The punishment was based on Walton’s statement to the board. That’s what I based my decision on,” said Controller Carmen Pedicone, a member of the prison board. “He has to be on his toes now, more than ever.”
Pedicone, along with Commissioner Charles Anderson, said they have confidence in Walton’s ability to run the jail.
“This was a colossal lapse in judgement and certainly never should have happened. His record isn’t clear anymore, so there will be scrutiny,” Anderson said.
Commissioner Tom Balya called the jail officials’ actions “minimal” and said neither Walton nor Cmar violated any ethical provisions. Balya and Kopas also expressed continued confidence in Walton.
Sheriff Charles Moore, who serves as chairman of the prison board, said a third employee at the facility also was disciplined. Moore declined to reveal the nature of that discipline and refused to name that person, who reportedly was with Walton and Cmar during the incident.
Kopas called the third person an “accomplice” who was following orders from Walton and Cmar.
Moore said the case against Walton will be closed after county detectives look into the incident. Moore declined to say what detectives were asked to investigate.
District Attorney John Peck, also a member of the prison board, would neither confirm nor deny the existence of an ongoing investigation.
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