Evans City-Seven Fields officers resign; cite conflict, lack of contract
Former officers Scott Longdon and Michael Podolec said that growing job security concerns amid an ongoing conflict in the Evans City-Seven Fields Regional Police Department left them with little option but to resign.
“It’s kind of forced the hand of myself and other officers to go elsewhere,” Longdon said. “I’ve been there eight years — 19 total, if you include Evans City. I can’t sit back and wait for someone to decide what my future is, so we’re moving on.”
Two full-time officers and one part-time officer resigned this month, according to Chief Joe McCombs, who is one of the remaining three full-time officers.
Even fully staffed, Evans City-Seven Fields was covering 15 shifts of its 35 shifts in a normal week, according to McCombs.
Tom Smith, administrator for the regional police department, said that state police have been enlisted to assist the department until those roles are filled.
“The public is not going to be without medical or major police coverage for incidents,” Smith said.
