An Awarding Experience
The Abington Board of Commissioners dished out a lot of hardware during last night’s meeting.
Abington Police Officers
Officer Mike Farley and Detective Phil Geliebter were presented with Class III Commendations for their respective roles in capturing a suspect in a Glenside home invasion case in June.
Farley was injured in the incident, as the suspect stuck Farley with his vehicle; Geliebter was instrumental in capturing the suspect in Philadelphia, according to Abington Police Chief William Kelly. Kelly called the suspect a “hardened criminal.”
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Officer Drew Kent received a Class III Commendation for his role in capturing a robbery suspect in September. Kelly said the arrest was “not like what happens on TV,” as Kent found the suspect 45 minutes after the robbery … on the other side of town.
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Vance
The Abington Board of Commissioners presented a commendation to Montgomery County Chief Detective (and Abington resident and Abington High School alumus) Oscar Vance for his 30 years of service. Vance served under eight different district attorneys. His successor is Ed Justice
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DJ Dougherty
District Justice Joseph Dougherty received a commendation from the board for his 24 years of service. Kelly said Dougherty provided “justice for the victims and the convicted with a touch of compassion and humanity for all.”
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SWAT
And Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman presented the 2011 District Attorney’s SWAT Challenge Trophy to the Abington SWAT team. Ferman said the challenge is in its fifth year … and she has presented it to members of the Abington SWAT team for the past four years.
Robert B. Sklaroff, M.D.
7:34 am on Friday, January 13, 2012
The reader should view the entire video after it's uploaded next week on the abington.org website. After the "awarding experience," the commissioners were constantly reminded of the need to maintain fiscal responsibility; this input was provided a half-dozen times by yours-truly [even agreeing with Kline regarding the need to enhance oversight of professional-contracting, evoking a twitter-or-two]. When DiJoseph lamented the frequency of these forays, it had to be recognized that--under her leadership--the Board requires this level of oversight.
More important, perhaps, was that the commissioners who were incumbents last year [and voted regarding Brandolini/Baederwood] were subpoenaed to testify on 1/27/2012 regarding whether they consider my challenge to the Fairway Transit District to be "frivolous." The members of the Zoning Hearing Board were reminded that this effort would congest not only the Fairway, but also Susquehanna Ave [@ multiple sites], in contravention of both established Township policy/reports and input from county/township planning commissions. They also were told--more pointedly than had been revealed previously--that the professional ethics of the township solicitor [Robert Rex Herder, Esquire] are now foursquare before the public.
Robert B. Sklaroff, M.D.
7:46 am on Friday, January 13, 2012
It should be emphasized that Ms. DiJoseph decried her perception that I had spoken "for a half hour" [when, actually, I had consumed--due to her 3-minute rule--far less time], reflecting the fact that Ii had created discomfiture. And this was before i had lambasted Herder, Jr. for having filed a "joinder" to the submission of Marc B. Kaplin, Esquire; at-issue is the [Watergate] classic "what did you know and when did you know it?" [amplified, here, to include "when did you remit a copy of the paperwork?"]. Previously, only the deceit of the latter had been spotlighted; now, they are both being challenged for having violated their responsibility to serve as "officers of the court."
The specific issue is why the "Doctrine of Laches" was knowingly violated by Brandolini; for Herder had unambiguously informed Kaplin of the 6/15/2011 hearing PRIOR thereto [which Herder told Judge Del Ricci and myself, in chambers]; a subsequent filing by Kaplin [who probably wasn't informed of this admission] claimed he'd only learned of the existence of this litigation AFTER 6/15/2011...and the most recent filing claims Herder only told him thereof on the night prior.
This is a :delicious" taste of the judicial system that is being punctured by this pro-se litigant, absent support from community organizations/individuals. The battle continues, but the Commissioners will ultimately have to take responsibility for their [in]actions...and "reminders" will constantly be emitted....
Marc Lombardi
8:52 am on Friday, January 13, 2012
Dr. Bob: Have you ever considered running for commissioner in your ward? This would certainly allow you avoid the limitations on the 3-minute-rule and also allow for greater discussion without the use of lawsuits and subpoenas.
Robert B. Sklaroff, M.D.
9:01 am on Friday, January 13, 2012
I ran in the GOP primary against an incumbent who I felt lacked credibility...and lost by 37 votes...a decade ago; Marcel Groen can fill-you-in regarding the details.
I do not relish the need to function pro-se but, like Cincinnatus, I will not shirk from duty...particularly when others knowingly fail to uphold their responsibilities.
And, BTW, know that the 3-minute rule has been ignored when others have spoken; for whatever reason, my input is perceived as distasteful...so sad.
Marc Lombardi
1:50 pm on Friday, January 13, 2012
Plus I'm sure that it doesn't help that, as the adage goes, "A lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client."
I can understand your frustration with the process and your dislike of the deals that are in the works, but I don't agree that seemingly endless lawsuits are always the way to go.
Our friend Art Larson was just on here the past few days seemingly bragging about the 250 lawsuits and $1.5 Million he has spent in legal fees fighting the government. Seems like all it's doing is wasting taxpayer dollars having to fight one single person who wants to drag everything to court when a vote doesn't go his way.
Robert B. Sklaroff, M.D.
3:09 pm on Friday, January 13, 2012
perhaps instead of citing glib euphemisms and anecdotal diatribes, you should derive conclusions following a review of the facts; all relevant filings are uploaded on "scribd"
Victor B. Krievins
9:36 am on Friday, January 13, 2012
Congratulations to the award winning Abington Police! We are all very proud of you
Danielle
5:40 pm on Wednesday, January 18, 2012
We are so lucky to have such a fantastic police department. CONGRATULATIONS and THANK YOU!