After almost six years at the helm of the Gettysburg Borough Police Department, Chief Robert Glenny is pursuing another opportunity. Mechanicsburg Borough Council will vote Tuesday on hiring Glenny to lead their department for an annual salary of $121,000.
Glenny agreed to speak to the Connection about his move after it became public through an agenda on Mechanicsburg’s website. The borough is located in Cumberland County, about 40 minutes north of Gettysburg.
“It has been an honor to serve the citizens of Gettysburg,” Glenny said. “However, it is time for me to pursue another opportunity.”
Glenny declined to elaborate on his reasons for the change before Tuesday’s vote but said Mayor Rita Frealing has supported his department.
“His 35-plus years of experience has been something I really rely on,” Frealing said when contacted Monday. “Mechanicsburg will have a great new resource for their police department.”
Council President Matthew Moon declined to comment for this story. Frealing said she is unsure of the process of replacing Glenny or naming an interim chief.
“I hope to be part of that process,” she said.
Who the police chief reports to – Gettysburg Borough Council or the mayor– has become one of the central issues in Frealing’s re-election campaign against current councilman Chad-Alan Carr. Carr declined to comment on Glenny’s pending departure but said he believes the chief should report to the council because seven members of the council could provide better oversight than one mayor.
Additionally, Carr said, all other departments report to council. Frealing said Glenny’s expected resignation coming two weeks before the May 20 Primary Election is coincidental.
“You cannot control timing,” she said.
Gettysburg Borough Council’s next meeting is 7 p.m., May 12. All meetings are held in Council Chambers on High Street and open to the public as well as live-streamed and later posted on the Community Media of South Central PA website.
Alex J. Hayes has spent almost two decades in the Adams County news business. He is passionate about sharing stories focused on the people in our communities and following local governments in an age when few journalists report on their meetings. Alex is also a freelance writer for several other publications in South Central Pennsylvania. Alex encourages readers to contact him at ahayes83@gmail.com.
The police Chief should report to the Council to obtain ideas and diverse views, but he should have one “boss”, the Mayor. Answering to seven is a recipe for confusion and poor management.
One boss for police department, the mayor. I totally agree with Mr. Wiebe’s position and comments. Mayor Frealing has done a wonderful job. Council is trying to sneak Carr into mayor’s position. And speaking of the Council, their performance has been less than stellar. Look at how they acquired the property they are going to use as the new visitor center. All those shenanigans were posted in The Gettysburg Times. Shame on them.