Half of the West Reading Police Department, including the acting officer in charge, was placed on temporary administrative leave Thursday after it was discovered that the firearms certification for a department range instructor had lapsed.
Borough sources confirmed that six officers -- five full-time and one part-time -- were taken off the streets for the day as department officials worked to resolve the issue.
"Yes, I have officers who I have instructed the officer in charge that I do not want working until their firearms certifications have been updated," West Reading Mayor Shane J. Keller said. "We have them scheduled (to be recertified) at 8 a.m. (today), so this will be taken care of relatively quickly."
Keller declined to discuss who was at fault for the error.
However, other borough sources pointed the finger at fired borough Police Chief Edward C. Fabriziani, who they said failed to authorize one of two firearms instructors in the department to complete the recertification process last year.
By law, police officers are required to undergo firearms recertification once a year. It's been West Reading's practice, though, to recertify its officers twice a year.
If up to date on their qualifications, the firearms instructors, both officers, can certify others in the department to use firearms.
All of the officers placed on leave Thursday had been to the range and qualified for recertification in conformity with state standards, police officials said. But the firearms instructor who trained them was unaware that his own certification had expired until this week, when department officials tried to sign him up for another course, officials said.
Sources said the instructor in question asked Fabriziani, who then was chief, several times for permission to go to requalification training, but was never given the OK.
Fabriziani was fired in November along with Sgt. Richard Vetter and Officer Ronald E. Ladd. Fabriziani could return to the force as a patrolman as early as next month in a deal being worked out with the borough.
His attorney, Kevin A. Moore, could not be reached Thursday.
Since the chief's termination, Sgt. Keith Phillips has served as acting officer in charge of the department.
As a sergeant, sources said, Phillips would not have been privy to information on the firearms instructors' certification status.
Phillips declined to discuss the matter, saying only: "Whatever issues we have, we are diligently solving."
With six officers out, West Reading was left with just four patrolmen and a detective on its force Thursday night.
The affected officers will be recertified by West Reading's other firearms instructor this morning.
Contact Becca Y. Gregg: 610-371-5032 or [email protected].
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