03/21/2006 Court rejects petition BY ANDREW M. SEDER STAFF WRITER HONESDALE — The Commonwealth Court has upheld a Wayne County judge’s decision denying a former humane society police officer’s reappointment. The ruling means Elizabeth Anderson, of the Mountain Humane Society in Tafton, remains unable to serve in that capacity in Wayne County. In the nine-page decision, Judge Dan Pellegrini wrote that during an investigation into alleged abuse of an elderly pony in 2004, Ms. Anderson abused her authority — and that her “purposeful omission of material facts ... amounted to substandard conduct.” The court ruled that was sufficient enough for her petition to be denied. Ms. Anderson did not return a call seeking comment Monday. Wayne County District Attorney Michael Lehutsky ruled both courts made the right decision based on the facts. “The courts properly recognized that humane society police officers are considered police officers and they should be held to the same high standards as state or municipal police officers,” he said. Wayne County President Judge Robert J. Conway presided over the hearing in July and ruled against Ms. Anderson’s petition for reappointment. She appealed to Commonwealth Court and arguments were held Feb. 28 in Philadelphia in front of a three-judge panel. Contact the writer: aseder@timesshamrock.com

ŠThe Times-Tribune 2006