Pocono News Section

Students React to University Cop Arrest

Students React to University Cop Arrest - Thursday, July 16, 2009 at 4:10PM EST

Reported by: Kyla Campbell
Thursday, Jul 16, 2009 @ 04:10pm EST

BLOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY -- Bloomsburg University police officer, Sgt. Joseph Clauser, is free on bail after he was arrested on felony forgery charges. He's accused of tampering with another officer's time card in order to alter his own time card and get unearned overtime pay.

"It's a hypocrisy," said Bloomsburg University senior Nick Weaver. "You can't say you're here to enforce the law and be the symbol of what's right and then be breaking it in your spare time. That's not right."

The university's director of communications, Rosalee Rush, says Clauser is still employed there.

"Due to the nature of the charges, Sgt. Clauser has been temporarily reassigned until the case is adjudicated," said Rush.

"That is fair," commented Weaver, who had just left a law class. "But if he's guilty, I think there should be some type of penalty -- suspension without pay or something like that -- to make amends for what he did."

"I'm a little older coming back to school, but a lot of these kids are young," said Jacob Harrison, who recently served in Iraq and Afghaniston. "And he should be setting a good example. "

But so far, these students say the only example Clauser has set, is for what not to do.