Testimony continues in Brice civil service hearing

By Max Robinette
mrobinette@yourmvi.com
Donora’s civil service commission held a second hearing Wednesday to determine if former police superintendent Jim Brice should be reinstated.
Council fired Brice from his role in August after 42 years of police service in the borough. Accusations against him remained unknown until last month, when the civil service commission held its first hearing on Jan. 26.
The borough brought multiple accusations against Brice, claiming the former superintendent neglected police duties, submitted erroneous monthly reports, failed to respond to backup calls, failed to follow multiple council directives, allowed unauthorized access to police databases and at times had been intoxicated at work.
During the first meeting, the commission heard testimony from former mayor Jim McDonough, council President Mike McDowell, police Officer Mike Parry and former police officer Keith Charlton.
Each witness spoke of the alleged events that supported the firing. Together, the testimonies crafted the image of a department leader who, after years of service, began to neglect his duties, display overt favoritism, act spitefully and create tensions in the department and the borough.
Following the first hearing, the borough, represented by attorney Chris Gabriel, rested its case.
On Wednesday, Brice’s attorneys, Elizabeth Tuttle and Massimo Terzigni, brought their case to the commission, calling Councilman Joe Greco, Mayor Don Pavelko, police Chief Neal Rands, police department turnkey Tanner Brice and the former superintendent to testify.

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