Fallout continues in Derry Borough weeks after a council member called for the resignation of the mayor, borough council president and others. Now, he’s accusing them of political intimidation. Al Checca is accusing Mayor Grant Nicely and Council President Sara Cowan of political intimidation after Pennsylvania State Police were called to his house. “It’s pure retaliation. There’s no other excuse for that,” Checca said. Ring surveillance video shows two state police officers showing up to Checca’s home on Oct. 27, recommending he not bring a gun to a meeting set the same day at Derry School District. “Having worked for the school district for 10 years, I was well aware of no firearms on campus, and had no intentions of bringing it,” he said. Minutes later, Checca showed up to the school district for the meeting. Dash camera video from his car shows another trooper showing up to the school and asking for a pat down, which Checca denies.Checca is accusing Mayor Nicely and borough council president Cowan of calling the police. Checca says they are trying to intimidate him before the election. The mayor is not up for reelection, but both Cowan and Checca are.Mayor Nicely, who also works for the school district as a security guard, said he has no comment at this time.The superintendent for Derry School District, Greg Ferencak, issued the following statement.”The Derry Area School District maintains a productive working relationship with the Derry Borough Police Department and the Pennsylvania State Police. School District administrators were made aware over the weekend of a matter concerning one of its school security guards. The Derry Area School District is conducting an investigation into the concern. Since this matter involves a district employee, no further comment can be made at this time.”Checca said he is positive it was the pair who called the police. “The meeting was exclusively to council members, and a Derry police officer told me off the record that it was 100 percent the mayor and council president involved in this,” he said. President Sara Cowan was set to have an interview with Pittsburgh’s Action News, but instead issued a statement:”The School security issue on Friday had absolutely nothing to do with me, and our police department and Mayor informed Mr. Checca of that, but I’m still being blamed for it. If anyone is being intimidated ahead of this election it is me. They all have been allowed to harass and slander me on a huge media platform and I’m unable to stand up for myself on their comments. Al has been a problem on our council for several years. Employees, contractors, council members (current and former)-many will attest to that. He’s a hateful and angry man. I hold a title he has wanted and past councils haven’t appointed him to this position for a reason,”Checca said this situation is in retaliation to the K9 Smoke incident. The Derry police dog was euthanized, and Checca publicly called for the mayor and president to step down for not handling the situation well.
Fallout continues in Derry Borough weeks after a council member called for the resignation of the mayor, borough council president and others. Now, he’s accusing them of political intimidation.
Al Checca is accusing Mayor Grant Nicely and Council President Sara Cowan of political intimidation after Pennsylvania State Police were called to his house.
“It’s pure retaliation. There’s no other excuse for that,” Checca said.
Ring surveillance video shows two state police officers showing up to Checca’s home on Oct. 27, recommending he not bring a gun to a meeting set the same day at Derry School District.
“Having worked for the school district for 10 years, I was well aware of no firearms on campus, and had no intentions of bringing it,” he said.
Minutes later, Checca showed up to the school district for the meeting. Dash camera video from his car shows another trooper showing up to the school and asking for a pat down, which Checca denies.
Checca is accusing Mayor Nicely and borough council president Cowan of calling the police. Checca says they are trying to intimidate him before the election.
The mayor is not up for reelection, but both Cowan and Checca are.
Mayor Nicely, who also works for the school district as a security guard, said he has no comment at this time.
The superintendent for Derry School District, Greg Ferencak, issued the following statement.
“The Derry Area School District maintains a productive working relationship with the Derry Borough Police Department and the Pennsylvania State Police. School District administrators were made aware over the weekend of a matter concerning one of its school security guards. The Derry Area School District is conducting an investigation into the concern. Since this matter involves a district employee, no further comment can be made at this time.”
Checca said he is positive it was the pair who called the police.
“The meeting was exclusively to council members, and a Derry police officer told me off the record that it was 100 percent the mayor and council president involved in this,” he said.
President Sara Cowan was set to have an interview with Pittsburgh’s Action News, but instead issued a statement:
“The School security issue on Friday had absolutely nothing to do with me, and our police department and Mayor informed Mr. Checca of that, but I’m still being blamed for it.
If anyone is being intimidated ahead of this election it is me. They all have been allowed to harass and slander me on a huge media platform and I’m unable to stand up for myself on their comments. Al has been a problem on our council for several years. Employees, contractors, council members (current and former)-many will attest to that. He’s a hateful and angry man. I hold a title he has wanted and past councils haven’t appointed him to this position for a reason,”
Checca said this situation is in retaliation to the K9 Smoke incident. The Derry police dog was euthanized, and Checca publicly called for the mayor and president to step down for not handling the situation well.
