Summary
concluding that evidence supported finding that borough's adoption of ordinance abolishing the chief of police position was not performed in good faith
Summary of this case from Blesse v. Borough of CoaldaleOpinion
October 9, 1963.
November 12, 1963.
Municipalities — Boroughs — Police — Captain — Abolition of office — Validity — Bad faith.
1. Although a borough council has the right, acting in good faith, to abolish the office of chief of police and a presumption arises that the municipal officers have acted properly in so doing, where there is affirmative evidence of bad faith on the part of the municipality, the court may disregard such action. [8]
2. In this action of mandamus filed by a dismissed chief of police to compel his reinstatement with back pay, in which it appeared that while the legality of such dismissal was being litigated in another proceeding the borough council passed an ordinance abolishing the office of chief of police, It was Held, in the circumstances, that the court below could properly infer that the adoption of the ordinance was a subterfuge in order to avoid the effect of an adverse ruling in the pending litigation. [7-9]
3. It was Held, in the circumstances, that the court below had erred in allowing, in its computation of damages, an item consisting of losses sustained by the plaintiff in operating a gasoline station. [8-9]
Argued October 9, 1963. Before BELL, C. J., MUSMANNO, JONES, COHEN, EAGEN, O'BRIEN and ROBERTS, JJ.
Appeal, No. 3, March T., 1964, from order of Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Jan. T., 1961, No. 3293, in case of Willard Schauer v. Borough of Whitehall. Order modified and affirmed; reargument refused December 18, 1963.
Mandamus. Before BROSKY, J.
Adjudication entered finding for plaintiff and directing that he be reinstated as chief of police and that he be paid past salary less net earnings, defendants' exceptions dismissed and order entered for plaintiff. Borough appealed.
Loyal H. Gregg, Borough Solicitor, for appellant.
Thomas P. Shearer, with him Peter F. Flaherty, for appellee.
This appeal is from the order of the court below compelling the Borough of Whitehall to restore appellee Schauer to the office of chief of police.
Willard Schauer was appointed chief of police of Whitehall in 1953. In 1959 he was discharged by the borough council. This Court, affirming a determination of the County Court of Allegheny County that Schauer's dismissal had been improper, ordered his reinstatement. Schauer Dismissal Case, 401 Pa. 486, 165 A.2d 26 (1960). While the appeal from Schauer's dismissal was pending in the county court, the borough council passed an ordinance abolishing the office of chief of police. When appellee in pursuance of our decision in his first appeal notified the borough council that he was ready and willing to assume his former position, the borough council refused his reinstatement relying upon this ordinance. Schauer thereupon brought this action of mandamus to compel his reinstatement with back pay. The court below ruled in his favor and the borough appealed.
While it is true that a municipality may abolish the office of chief of police and a presumption arises that the municipal officers have acted properly in so doing, where there is affirmative evidence of bad faith on the part of the municipality, a court is justified in disregarding such legislation. Mamallis v. Millbourne Borough, 401 Pa. 375, 378, 164 A.2d 209, 211 (1960).
There is ample evidence in the record to justify the lower court's finding that the adoption of the ordinance in question was other than a good faith attempt to promote economy and efficiency in the operation of the Whitehall police department. Lending credence to this finding is the fact that the action of the borough council was concurrent with pending litigation challenging the right of the borough council to dismiss Schauer from the same office in the first instance. An inference could properly be drawn that the passage of the ordinance under these circumstances was a subterfuge with the purpose of hedging against the possibility of a court ruling that the original dismissal was wrongful.
Turning to the question of damages, the court below included in appellee's recovery an item consisting of losses sustained in operation of a gasoline station. We fail to see how losses incurred in an independent business venture had any connection with the damages sustained as a result of the dismissal. Hence, the lower court erred in including this item in its computation of damages. We therefore remand the record to the court below with directions to modify accordingly the award of back salary. As so modified, the order is affirmed.
Order affirmed as modified with costs to appellant.