Firing of Reading police officer upheld by arbitrator

MCs in the News

A state arbitrator has upheld the city's June firing of police Officer Mark S. Groff, who had been accused of fraternizing with the Pagans motorcycle gang, lying and abusing alcohol.
Police Chief William M. Heim on Tuesday confirmed the arbitrator issued the decision last week, but neither he nor Mayor Tom McMahon would go into specifics.
Mark S. Groff in 2005.
"I think the appropriate decision was made," McMahon said.
Neither Groff nor the Fraternal Order of Police could be reached for comment.
Heim fired Groff on June 24 after probing the allegations, but City Council claimed it also had a say in the decision.
After two closed-door hearings, council voted 6-0 on Aug. 20 to approve the firing.
Groff appealed the decision through the grievance procedure of the police contract.
That process ended with the arbitrator's ruling.
City officials said that although the state's new Right-to-Know Law makes the ruling public information, the text of the arbitrator's reasoning is not public information because it's part of a personnel action.
According to sources, Groff was fired for repeatedly fraternizing with the Pagans while he was off-duty, violating a contract clause that bans police from associating with a felon or someone with a reputation for felonious or criminal behavior.

He also was accused of lying during the internal affairs probe and of drinking on the job, sources said.
Groff joined the city police force in 2005 and was paid $59,096.
However, unlike previous cases in which a fired officer continued to collect his pay until the appeal process was complete, Groff's salary ended at the firing.
Contact Don Spatz: 610-371-5027 or dspatz@readingeagle.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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