A new part-time police officer could soon be added in West Penn Township.

It was announced at Tuesday morning’s board of supervisors meeting that the township has received one application for a part-time police officer.

Board Chairman Tony Prudenti asked Sgt. John Kaczmarczyk, the township’s sergeant-in-charge, when would be a good time to set up an interview date.

“The sooner the better,” Kaczmarczyk replied.

It was announced last month that the township has received interest in its vacant chief of police position.

Several applications have also been submitted for full-time police officer positions, supervisors said at that time.

Resident Delroy Haas asked at that meeting if the board had more information on the police department.

Prudenti said the township has a couple applications for chief and for full-time, but added it was still looking for part-time police officers. He said at that time interviews hadn’t been conducted.

Haas then asked if there’s any more information they can share on the police chief, to which Prudenti said not at that time.

Earlier last month, supervisors terminated the employment of police Chief James Bonner, and accepted the resignation of part-time officer Richton Penn.

The board voted unanimously at that time to dismiss Bonner, who had been on paid administrative suspension since Sept. 4.

Reasons for his termination, however, were not discussed.

Township solicitor Paul J. Datte said the township conducted an investigation and informed Bonner of the results. Bonner was given an opportunity to respond and provide his side of the story at a recent hearing, Datte said.

At that point, supervisors voted unanimously to fire Bonner, whose contract was set to expire at the end of the year. He was hired as chief in October 2021 but had worked for the township since 2016.

Supervisors appointed Kaczmarczyk as sergeant-in-charge after putting Bonner on leave last month.

During the public comment portion of last month’s meeting, a resident noted that many rumors regarding Bonner and Fritz’s lawsuit are circulating.

Asked by the resident if more information would surface, Datte said, “There could be, but not at this time.”

The board then voted to advertise to fill the vacant chief position.

As for the lawsuit, Fritz alleged the township violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and other federal and state laws while she was employed as support staff for the police department.

The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. In it, Fritz alleges discriminatory and retaliatory actions made after she was diagnosed with anxiety led to her termination in October 2023.

In her lawsuit, Fritz is seeking several forms of relief, including back pay and benefits, compensation for emotional pain and suffering, and punitive damages.