AK Steel announces salaried cutbacks

By Dave Greber | Thursday, December 4, 2008, 01:37 PM

West Chester Twp.-based AK Steel Corp., announced earlier this week they would implementing salary reductions and other cuts as a response to a sluggish economy.

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Father would be proud of ‘Big E’

By Dave Greber | Wednesday, December 3, 2008, 03:30 PM

Despite an office that remains bare and a to-do list as long as he is tall, West Chester Twp.’s new Police Chief Erik Niehaus carved out some time for me this morning to chat.

Here’s the resulting story.

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New chief, new era

By Dave Greber | Tuesday, December 2, 2008, 08:35 AM

If you had an opportunity to sit down with Lt. Erik Niehaus, who will be sworn in tonight as the West Chester Twp. Police Chief, what would you ask him?

What do you believe his priorities should be, as the department looks to a new leader for the first time since 2001?

Thoughts?

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Niehaus to replace Bruce

By Dave Greber | Monday, December 1, 2008, 05:29 PM

West Chester Trustees have selected Lt. Erik Niehaus to be their next chief of police.

The announcement came just before 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1, when a message written by Safety Services Director James Dethridge was posted at department headquarters, which said Niehaus would fill the position effective Dec. 3.

Trustees must still make the appointment official, which they are expected to do at their meeting Tuesday.

Here’s the release from the township, which confirms the message posted earlier today.

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Chief Bruce resigns

By Dave Greber | Monday, December 1, 2008, 02:18 PM

West Chester Twp. Police Chief Col. John Bruce has resigned from the township, nearly a month before his contract expires and less than two days before Trustees are expected to name his replacement.

Read the rest of that story here.

I spoke with Bruce earlier this afternoon, and he was emphatic about his resignation occurring only as a result of “a promise” he made to trustees when they decided this summer not to renew his three-year contract extension.

As he stated in the article, ” … I will still fulfill my obligation to them not to impede the transition in the greatest police department in the nation.”

Although I haven’t yet verified this with township officials, Bruce said he will be paid for the remaining nearly four weeks left on his contract.

The resignation comes just a little over two months after an internal investigation was launched into his hiring practices.

Here’s how it all began.

Bruce then demanded a public apology from trustees.

Then, the West Chester FOP held a vote of “no confidence” in Bruce in early November. Read about that here.

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New chief to be appointed Tuesday

By Dave Greber | Monday, December 1, 2008, 07:01 AM

West Chester Trustees are expected to appoint a new leader of the township’s police department Dec. 2.

The decision could come nearly a month before the contract of the township’s current chief, Col. John Bruce, expires.

Trustees wrapped up the final set of interviews with the three candidates vying for the chief’s position Nov. 20, according to Township Administrator Judi Boyko. Boyko said it was trustees’ goal to have the process completed by the first meeting of December.

“I think we’re still on track for that, but the board still hasn’t made any formal decisions,” Boyko said. “The process has been completed with interviews with the Board of Trustees.”

Although a decision can be made privately, trustees would have to make the official appointment of the next chief during a public meeting.

Captains Joel Herzog, 40, and David Kelly, 44, and Lt. Erik Niehaus, 37, are being considered to replace Bruce, a 29-year veteran with the township, whose contract will expire Dec. 31.

Although he has not been asked to participate in the selection process, Bruce has expressed his support for two of the three candidates — Herzog and Kelly — because of their experience at the command level.

Bruce’s final months of his contract have been mired in controversy after trustees launched an internal investigation in late September into his hiring practices.

The investigation stated the chief advised Donald Gatliff, 27, of West Chester Twp., — his nephew by marriage — to omit a history of drug use and crime and to not disclose on his application he was related to Bruce and Bruce’s wife, Denise, who is the director of the township’s communications and information technology department.

Gatliff turned in his resignation to trustees on Oct. 28.

Bruce has denied the allegations, saying he was always aware of Gatliff’s background.

And despite a unanimous vote of “no confidence” taken by the West Chester police union Nov. 4, trustees have said any potential discipline of Bruce could lead to a costly court battle. As a result, Bruce has remained on the job.

That may change, however, at the meeting Dec. 2, especially if Bruce’s replacement is named. Trustees could place Bruce on paid administrative leave, terminate his contract or allow him to finish out his tenure as chief until the turn of the year.

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A very different Thanksgiving this year

By Dave Greber | Tuesday, November 25, 2008, 07:53 AM

Early last week, I received a message from Andy Furman about a local woman with a lot to lose, who nearly lost it all.

West Chester resident Jennifer Cheek is a 30-year-old mother of two. She works at Izzy’s Famous Corned Beef off Ohio 747. She’s getting her life back together after years of dope, drinks and debauchery. For the first time in a long time, she’s also happy.

I have to admit, I had my doubts about this story, the recentness of her sobriety, if you will. I got a hold of her caseworker at Butler County Children Services. He said she was good for it, that Cheek should be seen as a model for getting clean. Her family, and especially her 10-year-old son and 1-year-old daughter, hope she stays that way.

Here’s Jennifer’s story.

Thoughts?

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