By Karen Zapf
A Plum police officer has been
suspended indefinitely for what borough officials said was an internal breach
of the municipal computer system.
Ptl. Jeremy Cumberledge, a
seven-year veteran of the department, was suspended with pay on Jan. 11,
according to two council members close to the matter.
The computer system contained
records for the borough's 67 employees.
Officials said that security issues
have been addressed.
“The borough's computer network
was accessed inappropriately,” police Chief Jeff Armstrong said. “It isn't
police department specific.”
The breach did not involve any
resident information such as tax records, municipal manager Mike Thomas said.
“I have no reason to suspect
that any residents' information was compromised,” he said.
Plum Mayor Richard Hrivnak did
not comment.
Thomas declined to disclose how
the breach occurred or a timeframe for when it occurred.
Cumberledge could not be
reached for comment. His base salary is $78,817, Thomas said.
“We have turned over whatever
information we have to another law enforcement agency,” Thomas said.
Thomas declined to disclose the
name of the law enforcement agency.
Once the breach was discovered,
measures were taken to ensure it didn't happen again.
“The (information technology)
director made modifications to the security design to prevent further
compromising of information and data,” Thomas said.
Plum Councilman Leonard Szarmach,
personnel committee chairman, said he wasn't happy to hear of the situation.
“I was shocked and quite
disappointed,” Szarmach said.
Councilman Dave Vento said
council members first learned of the situation in a closed session before the
Jan. 14 council meeting.
“You don't want that stuff
going on,” Vento said.
“The police department is the
best it has ever been. It is a shame when someone goes against the public
trust.”
Vento said if the allegations
against Cumberledge are true, Cumberledge's work status would be in jeopardy.
“He would not have much of a
future with our department,” Vento said.
“It is an ongoing
investigation, and it is out of council's hands,” council President Mike Doyle
said.
Vento hopes for a quick
conclusion to the investigation.
“Hopefully, it won't take
long,” he said. “We need to get closure.”
Karen Zapf is a staff writer
for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-856-7400, ext. 8753
