A retired Greenville-West Salem Township police chief criticized Greenville's mayor and council president for their handling of a policeman's suspension and resignation.

Former patrolman William G. Roesch resigned last week after 24 years on the force. Roesch is the focal point of a state Attorney General's investigation into allegations he sexually harassed five women.

Donald Reinhart, who retired as chief of police in the 1980s, said he was upset with Mayor Clifford Harriger's handling of the situation since Roesch's paid suspension in December, and Council President Richard Houpt's comments in The Herald the day after Roesch resigned.

By not identifying Roesch for about four months and releasing sometimes conflicting information to the media, Reinhart said the borough placed all other members of the force "under a veil of suspicion."

"A lot of good officers and their families suffered," Reinhart said.

Reinhart asked if there ever were two officers being investigated, as some early newspaper reports indicated. "Two were involved, one of which was accused," said Harriger, who oversees the force.

Reinhart also questioned a comment Houpt made to The Herald last Friday. Houpt said Roesch was "pressured to resign as a result of the claims against him ... through the mayor and council."

"Those are pretty strong words," Reinhart said to Houpt. "How was he pressured?"

"Perhaps that was a poor choice of words," Houpt said, adding, "Negotiated" may have been a better word." Houpt said the resignation was discussed between lawyers for the borough and Roesch, but was not part of a plea agreement. No charges have been filed against Roesch to date.

"This episode was handled terribly. It ruined people's lives," Reinhart said.