State Police Leadership Reacts to Trooper’s Charges
12/30/09 5:52 pm | reporter: Amy Kehm producer: Megan Healey
Harrisburg, Pa. – Pennsylvania State Police leadership is reacting to the arrest of one of its own. On Tuesday, the State Police Internal Affairs Unit arrested Trooper Barry Tangert.
Tangert, who has served as a trooper for 17 years, most recently worked in Harrisburg. Investigators indicated that Tangert misused his law enforcement power and threatened a prosecutor in a sexual assault case.
According to investigators, in August 2008 Tangert told a Cumberland County prosecutor that he had information about a child molestation case. Police said when he met with the prosecutor, Tangert stated he believed that two people charged, his friends, were innocent. They added that Tangert asked to be called on to re-interview the accuser so that she would recant her allegations.
[Snip]
“In this case, this person, Barry Tangert, is now suspended from his duties as a trooper, without pay,” said Lt. Myra Taylor. “He turns in his gun and his badge and he no longer represents the Pennsylvania State Police until such a time as this case is adjudicated.”
In addition, Lt. Taylor noted that state police continue to investigate Tanger’s actions in terms of state police directives.
“There are a number of regulations that have been violated in this case, or have been alleged to have been violated in this case, and those are looked at as well in addition to the criminal charges,” Taylor said. “So whether or not he remains a member of the Pennsylvania State Police will have to play itself out.”
