Is Morrisville preparing to discipline its police chief? What we know

Morrisville Council appears set to discipline its police chief.

A special meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday night to call for a motion to approve issuing a Loudermill notice to Chief George McClay, a process that suggests the council is planning to take employment action against him.

Why McClay is facing potential discipline is unclear.

The hearing notice comes a week after several residents appeared at a council meeting in support of McClay and express concerns the council plans to terminate him.

On Monday, McClay declined to comment on the situation. Council President Robert Paul did not respond to emails requesting information about the reason for the Loudermill motion sent on Friday and Monday.

Here is what we do know ahead of Wednesday's meeting:

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What is a Loudermill hearing?

The hearing is named after a 1985 U.S. Supreme Court case that held certain public-sector employees have an interest in their employment and are entitled to a due process hearing before facing severe discipline.

That ruling requires an employee be allowed to defend their self before any discipline is decided. The employee must be informed in a written notice — commonly referred to as a Loudermilll letter — of the charges against them and what evidence the employer has to support the claims.

Loudermill hearings can be public or private at the discretion of the employee.

What we know about George McClay

McClay was hired to take over the borough police department in February 2014 after the retirement of Jack Jones, who left the position in December 2012.

Before becoming chief, McClay served 28 years as a Philadelphia Police Department officer reaching the rank of lieutenant. He has a master’s degree in criminal justice.

In 2019 he was named the borough’s emergency manager. He is also an active participant in the police bike patrol.

McClay faced criticism from a council member at the October meeting over a phone call he made the previous month to a local district judge seeking a continuance of a preliminary hearing on behalf of former Mayor Brud Anderson, who oversees the police department.

Anderson reportedly was with his mother, who was receiving a medical treatment and claimed the district judge did not respond to an email requesting a continuance on his preliminary hearing on charges related to leaving the scene of an accident.

McClay responded that hearing continuances are common in court cases and he denied that it appeared he was “taking the side” of a criminal defendant.

What do residents have to say about police chief?

Supporters at the October council meeting described McClay as community- and prevention-oriented and someone who seeks to enforce regulations. They noted violent and property crime has declined since he took control of the department nearly a decade ago.

Residents also praised McClay for turning a department described by one resident as “Keystone cops” into an efficient and effective police force.

Residents were also critical of council members' lack of transparency around its reported investigation into McClay and accused the council of acting in secret.

“I would venture to say there are many residents, obviously proven tonight, that have high praise for the chief and his officers,” resident Donna Wilson said. “I do not think terminating the chief is a good idea for our town.”

McClay reiterated at the October meeting that he makes himself available to residents.

“As everyone knows my door is always open and I will talk to any of our citizens,” he said.

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This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: What is going on with Morrisville's police chief George McClay?