Pocono News Section

Reaction Mixed in Shenandoah

Reaction Mixed in Shenandoah - Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at 5:50PM EST

Reported by: Mike Trim
Tuesday, Dec 15, 2009 @ 05:50pm EST
SHENANDOAH, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY -- Opinions are split in Shenandoah. Some describe these police officers as pillars of their community. But others have heard rumors for years and say it's about time this alleged corruption was discovered.

Four Shenandoah police officers are sitting on the other side of the law. Word of Tuesday's federal indictments spread quickly in this small town they used to patrol.

Dawn Straka said, "Finally there's some relief that some of the corruption in this town will be taken care of."

Charges of obstruction, extortion and conspiracy don't come as a surprise to some people. Chief Matthew Nestor and three other officers are being charged with the crimes relating to the july 12 beating of Mexican-American Luis Ramirez.

The beating happened right in front of Eileen Burke's house. "I felt like the longer it went on that it was going to be swept underneath the carpet. I did feel like when I heard it was going federal and they were doing an investigation, I felt the man had a chance," she said.

But people like Charles Vascavage are stunned for other reasons. Vascavage is on Shenandoah's Crime Watch with Lieutenant Willaim Moyer, one of the indicted.

He calls Officer Moyer a nice guy who decorates the town's Christmas trees. "People are appalled by what's going on. I mean I guess we kind of figured there were rumors for months and months, maybe even a year about this," said Vascavage.

Cele Chuplis can't believe the charges. "It would be really a shock to me. Really a shock and I'm sad because they're all great guys," she said.

Two teens, Derrick Donachak and Brandon Piekarsky are also charged with federal hate crimes. Carlos Vega says if what's in the indictments are true, it has no place in Shenandoah.

"Just because this is an American small town, it doesn't matter if you're black, Spanish or white. We should be treated equal all the time," he said.

These indictments could create a workload for the Schuylkill County District Attorney's office. Borough management says any current cases handled by the indicted officers could be passed on to the D. A.'s office.

The indictments are a devastating blow to the town of just over 5,000. The Shenandoah Borough Manager says no decision has been made for on the immediate future of the officers.

There are seven officers on the Shenandoah Police Department. Four have been indicted. Now that they are at less than half strength, state police are going to help patrol the borough.