Police Union: Narberth's Hiring Process Unfair

A union for local police officers is accusing Narberth officials of passing over a potential new hire based on an incorrect presumption that he had an advantage in the background-check process.

The borough has five officers and plans to hire a sixth to return the department to the size it was last summer, before one officer and another . Borough council members are not commenting on the process while it remains an ongoing personnel matter, Council President Sam Quinn told Patch Monday.

Gavin Goschinski, president of FOP Lodge No. 28, addressed the Borough Council at Monday night's meeting, asking why borough officials dismissed the findings of the Lower Merion Police Department detectives they hired to perform background checks on eight officer candidates.

The detectives, Goschinski said, asked six of the candidates to withdraw because of lack of qualifications. Another candidate, former Philadelphia Police Officer Sean McCabe, . Mark Stillwagon, a Montgomery County deputy sheriff, was another candidate the detectives cleared for hiring, Goschinski said.

However, the borough decided instead to invite the withdrawn candidates to remain in the running, then hired a private firm to do new background checks, Goschinski said.

Goschinski accused the borough of getting skittish on Stillwagon once it was known his father is Lower Merion Det. Sgt. John Stillwagon. However, Goschinski said Stillwagon had recused himself from the entire background-check process, which was run instead by Lower Merion Lt. Frank Higgins, something he said the borough had not asked about.

"John Stillwagon feels his reputation has been compromised. Mark Stillwagon is in limbo," Goschinski said. "What's most concerning is that no one from Narberth engaged in basic due diligence to ask Lt. Higgins, 'Why did these guys withdraw?' I ask that this process be put back on track."

The union president added he had gotten different explanations for the hiring-process developments from different borough officials: "Everyone's throwing everyone under the bus down here (in Narberth)."

Quinn responded to Goschinski briefly before saying he wouldn't comment further.

"I know Narberth and Lower Merion have a longstanding relationship among the departments, and it's a relationship we value and look forward to maintaining," Quinn said. The borough has contracted with the township to help with police coverage ever since the Narberth Police Department became shorthanded.

Added Quinn, "We are always striving to improve our processes. Somewhere down the line, I look forward to getting together."

Goschinski thanked Quinn, and the meeting continued with other business. Goschinski later told Patch he got exactly the response he expected.

It was unclear Monday night how the borough plans to proceed with filling the police vacancy, which was not otherwise mentioned at the meeting.