Ligonier Valley Police Commission votes to fire Chief John Berger
LIGONIER, Pa. (KDKA) — The Ligonier Valley Police Commission voted Tuesday to fire Chief John Berger.
State police and Homeland Security agents raided the Ligonier Valley Police Department last week and seized Berger's phone and police cruiser. He was placed on leave after the raid.
Mike Matrunics has been named the new police chief, and the department is operating without interruption.
When asked about the grounds for termination, Solicitor Mark Sorice said Berger was an at-will employee and the move was about serving the public.
"We have to address the integrity of the department," he said. "We have to reassure the public that one man's troubles do not interfere with the operation of this department."
Matrunics declined to speak on camera to KDKA-TV. He served as the police chief for the Ligonier Township Police Department.
The solicitor says he doesn't know anything more about the raid since the warrant is still sealed, and it's not clear what the federal agents were looking for.
An internal investigation is underway, but Sorice doesn't believe anyone else is involved. KDKA-TV reached out to Berger's attorney but did not hear back.
