NORTHUMBERLAND -- Point Township supervisors accepted the resignation of Police Chief Curt Brown Tuesday night, at the same time complaining that his decision was leaked to the media days before it went public.
Brown on Monday submitted his letter of immediate resignation after three years as chief.
Personal reasons influenced his decision to leave, Brown wrote to township supervisors.
"The stress of this job has exacted a toll on my health, as well as my relationship with my wife, sons and family," he wrote. "I have come to the realization that nothing is more important to me than my family and the constant battles against certain residents and supervisors who represent the special interests within the township has become more than I am willing to put my family through."
The board accepted the resignation but, at the urging of some audience members, gave Brown, a 13-year veteran of the township police force, a one-week window to reconsider.
Supervisor Randy Yoxheimer said Brown was a friend and, while the supervisor accepted the resignation "with deep regret," he added, "I believe (Brown) is committed to this particular direction."
When asked by members of the audience, including former Supervisor Montie Peters, how reports of the chief's departure ended up on WKOK radio last week, the board was at a loss for an answer.
"This board does its best to be careful ... to keep information within the confines of the board of supervisors," Yoxheimer said. "This whole affair has, to my dismay, entered into the public arena and I have no idea where it came from."
Yoxheimer and solicitor Rick Shoch said the only people who knew the chief was considering leaving -- and who knew about the executive session held Monday night regarding the matter -- were those on the board of supervisors, Shoch and the township secretary, Dianna Fister.
All five members of the board of supervisors denied leaking the information, as did Shoch. The township secretary was on vacation.
Yoxheimer refused to speculate where the leak might have originated, but it was clear it could have only come from within the township administration.
Supervisor Justin Dunkelberger expressed deep frustration, characterizing the turn of events as another attempt by certain members of the community to discredit the township and turn people against one another.
"I'll tell you, as a citizen ... the last two years I've seen this town tear itself apart is absolutely deplorable," he said. "These people (spreading rumors) need to be smoked out by the residents, not by this board."
The board appointed Sgt. Josh VanKirk as acting chief.
Brown's resignation reduces the complement of officers in the township to four.
n E-mail comments to rscott@dailyitem.com.
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