Two recent court decisions will make it hard for a former police chief in Lawrence County to get his job back, but William R. Hogue said he plans to appeal at least one of those decisions.

Hogue was Pulaski Township police chief for 13 years before taking a voluntary medical leave Nov. 2, 1996, according to township solicitor John W. Hodge.

Hogue took the leave, he said, because of stress related to the slaying of Bonnie Dryfuse, her two daughters and a niece June 15, 1996, in Mrs. Dryfuse's mobile home, Supervisor Dan Abramson said in December 2000.

Hogue has previously claimed that he is well and ready to return to work.

In a hearing in March 1998, supervisors terminated Hogue, he said.

Hogue appealed the firing. In September 1998, Lawrence County Common Pleas Court Judge Ralph D. Pratt ordered supervisors to reinstate Hogue, with all benefits.

After another hearing in June 2000, Pratt clarified his decision and ruled Hogue be placed again on unpaid leave, Hodge said.

Hogue, who was represented by attorneys for the Fraternal Order of Police, appealed that decision to Commonwealth Court, which upheld it Jan. 10.

In a separate appeal to Lawrence County Court, Judge Dominick Motto on Dec. 28 upheld the supervisors' decision to fire Hogue.

Hogue said he plans to appeal Motto's decision. He said it is up to his FOP attorneys to decide whether he should appeal the Commonwealth Court's decision to the state Supreme Court.

Hodge, the township solicitor, said, "The supervisors don't have a vendetta. They just need an effective police chief."