In Re Appeal From Demotion of Gettler

Opinion by

Judge DiSalle,

This is an appeal by George J. Gettler, Sr. (Gettler), from the order of the Court of Common Pleas of Lebanon County, dated June 21, 1977. The somewhat unusual factual and procedural posture of this case follows.

Gettler began his service with South Lebanon Township (Township) as a part-time police chief on January 1, 1957. He was appointed to full-time police chief on January 1, 1960, and while he was the only member of the police force employed in a full-time capacity at that time, the force subsequently grew to where it now consists of a total of five, some times…