The township started its investigation of the police department after receiving an interoffice memo from Officer David Naas. In the memo, which was dated May 16, Naas told Lapensee that he had been the target of bullying and harassment since Dec. 2012 by the police administration.
Police administration includes Police Chief John Cresie and three sergeants who are the first line supervisors for the department and are assigned to road patrol duties.
"As the FOP Union Associate, I have spoken on behalf of the officers regarding various incidents including but not limited to the Police Department Administrations failure to follow its own written orders and policies," Naas said in the memo. "I have received many forms of bullying/harassment through various forms written verbal and unfair selected discipline."
Erika Vogel, the township's assistant administrator, conducted the investigation and Lapensee signed off on her report on Sept. 23.
Vogel came to the conclusion that Naas was not being bullied or harassed. She also concluded that the department needed to improve communication between Cresie and sergeants to the officers, develop a policy for the use of officer logs, revamp the policies and procedures for the department and record certain actions by other police officers in their officer logs for 2014.
In a statement issued to the media today, Lapensee said, "Butler Township takes allegations like this very seriously and will continue to work hard to correct the other issues identified in the report."
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