Metro

Two police officers were fired and a new borough manager was appointed during Monday’s Tyrone Borough Council meeting.

Borough police officers Traci Winters and Austin Miller were terminated after being placed on administrative leave for several weeks while officials pursued an internal investigation into the police department, Mayor John Harlow said Tuesday.

According to WJAC, Miller’s mother, Michelle Miller, claimed the officers were placed on leave after her son spoke out about the retirement of Winters’ K-9, Getro, during the public comment portion of February’s borough council meeting.

Harlow denied that claim, stating, “He was not placed on administrative leave because of speaking at the meeting.”

The council “followed the process” of the investigation, which from this point forward is a personnel issue, Harlow said.

The council also appointed interim Borough Manager Kim Gurekovich to the position full time, with a retroactive starting date of April 1.

As the borough’s manager, Gurekovich is entitled to the same benefits she had as an executive assistant and interim borough manager, according to the borough’s ordinance. Her annual salary is currently set at $95,899.

Harlow said there were about 12 other applicants for the position.

However, some people who submitted an application “weren’t even close to being qualified” for the position, Harlow said, adding Gurekovich has been with the borough for more than 30 years.

In that time, Gurekovich has served under eight borough managers and has acted as the interim borough manager four different times, Harlow said, adding a majority of council has “complete confidence” that Gurekovich “will be a phenomenal borough manager as we move forward.”

The vote to appoint Gurekovich was not unanimous, with councilwoman Bridgette Gill being the sole opposing member.

According to WJAC, Gill stated her reasoning was because she requested a resume from Gurekovich but was told she did not have one.