City of Easton police department

Chief carl j. Scalzo

48 North 4th Street
Easton, Pa 18042
Fax # 610 250-3931
Phone # 610 250-6630

Good Evening, everyone. Tonight, I stand before you in an

unprecedented situation, compelled by the council to address deeply
troubling allegations that have been levied against my department, my
officers, and myself.

I have been a law enforcement officer for 30 years and have been the
chief of this department for 12. This is the first time I have been forced to
respond to an allegation of racism, political corruption, and socio-economic
bias by a person of leadership and trust in our community. Councilwoman
Sultana made several accusations against this department following her
arrest for domestic violence in July of 2023 by the Easton Police Department
and following her acceptance into a first-time offenders program, ARD. I
want to recite the statements made by Councilwoman Sultana disparaging
my officers and my department so there is no dispute about why I am here
and what I am trying to defend.

READ STATEMENTS

Lehigh Valley Live – March 6th, 2024

After the hearing, Sultana tied her prosecution to a video she
posted last may of Easton resident Lance Wheeler’s arrest during a donation
drive for victims of the Ferry Street fire a few days prior.
“Our police department didn’t like it. The police department
chief didn’t like it. And the mayor, both asked me to take down that video of
his arrest. And I didn’t do that,” she said.
“ This is how everything started, and yeah, they ended up
arresting me.”

The Morning Call – March 6th, 2024

“I would have preferred immediate dismissal, of course, but,
like many people of color and poor people, I made the only option that was
given to me to protect my family from the vicious attacks of those in power
as well as keep my voice so that I can fight for my family and yours,”
Sultana said in a statement.
City of Easton police department
Chief carl j. Scalzo
48 North 4th Street
Easton, Pa 18042
Fax # 610 250-3931
Phone # 610 250-6630

Councilwoman Sultana’s Facebook Page – March 6th, 2024

“Now that this case is effectively settled, it is time to seek full
justice through the same public channels that the machine has used to
defame me and so many others. Pennsylvania need substantial criminal
justice reform such as the elimination of cash bail, the prohibition of private
prisons, and frequent and thorough investigations into all police departments
on a regular basis to ensure transparency and accountability and to prevent
the corruption that happens on a daily basis.”

These statements and allegations are not factual. I know it, the officers
on scene that day know it, Ms. Sultana’s family knows it, and most
importantly, Councilwoman Sultana, you know it.

As some of you are also aware, Mr. Baratta, the Northampton County
District Attorney, also made comments in open court referencing the
political twisting of this case. I am uncertain what he meant by those
statements or what he meant by political avenues could raise their head, but I
can assure you, as today's presentation will clearly show, that there was
absolutely no political influence in the actions of this department when
handling this call. As Mr. Baratta later stated, if he believed there was
political bias in this case, he would have dismissed the charges, which
obviously was not done and, in my opinion, speaks clearly to his belief in
the integrity of this department and, more specifically, the handling of this
case.

It is with a heavy heart that I address these allegations tonight.

However, I unequivocally affirm to this council, the city administration, and
every community member that our police department is unwavering in its
commitment to fairness, respect, and the dignified treatment of all
individuals. I want to stress that racial, political, and socioeconomic biases
have no place in our law enforcement and did not influence the handling of
this specific incident.
City of Easton police department
Chief carl j. Scalzo
48 North 4th Street
Easton, Pa 18042
Fax # 610 250-3931
Phone # 610 250-6630

As our Mission Statement declares, the officers of the Easton Police

Department and I, as Chief, are deeply dedicated to our duty of protecting
and serving the citizens of Easton with fidelity, honor, and in a manner that
is 'fair, unbiased, judicious and respectful of the dignity of all individuals.'
Our Mission Statement further guides us to follow 'The Golden Rule' and
treat all people the way we would want members of our family to be treated
regardless of their perceived status' – whether they are a member of our
community who is homeless or someone whom society may consider
necessary or privileged, such as a City Councilwoman.

As Chief, and on behalf of this Department, I want to underscore our

unwavering commitment to doing things the right way. We have dedicated
the past 15 years to ensuring our officers act with utmost professionalism,
our policies and practices are of the highest quality, and our reputation for
excellence is maintained and earned every single day. In her statements,
Councilwoman Sultana has called for police reform, transparency, and
accountability. We have answered that call, obtaining and maintaining the
highest levels of accreditation from the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police
Association, and have been accredited for over 15 years.

That is why I was so upset, offended, and angry when I heard and read
the comments and postings by Councilwoman Sultana that allege that her
arrest was somehow unfair, unwarranted, or based on something other than
our officers answering a 911 call from a young man seeking help.

Speaking of transparency, our officers are equipped with body-worn

cameras that record the actions and words of all persons involved in a given
police response. Our Department and officers welcome this tool as an
unbiased witness of what transpired on every call.

Several members of the City Council, specifically Councilman Ken

Brown, Councilman Frank Pittebone, and Councilman Jim Edinger have
requested and obtained a copy of the department's body-worn camera
City of Easton police department
Chief carl j. Scalzo
48 North 4th Street
Easton, Pa 18042
Fax # 610 250-3931
Phone # 610 250-6630

footage from that afternoon. They have directed me to play this video as
part of my presentation here this evening. This video shall be played

following my statements here tonight to be transparent with the community

we serve and to ensure that this department has not violated the oath we all
swore to uphold. I believe that the endeavor of playing this video, as
unfortunate as it is, is necessary to regain the trust of the citizens of this
community, which is essential to the success of any police agency. I say this
because I genuinely believe there are real-life consequences to statements
such as those made by Council Woman Sultana. My officers will have to
deal with those negative consequences for the
foreseeable future and attempt to convince the public that those statements
are invalid.

To put the video of Councilwoman Sultana’s arrest in context, I will

recount the timeline of events that pre-date and post-date the video:

• On July 31st, 2023, the 911 Dispatch Center received a call

reporting a domestic disturbance at Councilwoman Sultana's
home.
• Our officers responded, as we are required to do by law for any
domestic violence calls, regardless of who is involved.
• As reflected on the video, we received a credible complaint by
one of Councilwoman Sultana’s sons that his mother had
assaulted him, and officers observed physical injuries consistent
with an assault, including scratches to his face and dried blood
to his nose.
• As reflected on the video, Councilwoman Sultana’s son noted
that he had been assaulted by his mother on other occasions and
suffered prior injuries.
• As reflected on the video, other children stated that they, too,
had been assaulted by their mother on other occasions.
City of Easton police department
Chief carl j. Scalzo
48 North 4th Street
Easton, Pa 18042
Fax # 610 250-3931
Phone # 610 250-6630

• Our officers obtained a written statement from Councilwoman

Sultana’s son confirming everything he had told us on the BWC
Video.
• Our officers took pictures of the young man’s injuries.

• The reason for the written statement, pictures, and video – all of
which we try to do in every case - is that, sadly, many victims
of domestic incidents later want to recant what they said or
wish not to have their loved one arrested or prosecuted and in
doing so remain in a potentially dangerous and abusive
relationship.
• As we are mandated by law to act upon reports of domestic
violence, especially when officers observe physical injuries, we
had no option but to take Councilwoman Sultana into custody
and remove her from the home.

o Read the N.C. Domestic Violence Protocol

V. Arrest Authorization
a. The responding police officer must arrest ro seek a
warrant whenever the arrest is authorized in accordance
with departmental policy and law.
c. Under current Pennsylvania law, arrest is authorized in the
following circumstances
iii. When an officer has probable cause to believe the
suspect has violated… 2701 (simple assault)…
against a family or household member when the
officer observes recent physical injury to the
victim or other corroborative evidence even though
the offense did not take place in the officer’s
presence (18 Pa.C.S. 2701(a))
City of Easton police department
Chief carl j. Scalzo
48 North 4th Street
Easton, Pa 18042
Fax # 610 250-3931
Phone # 610 250-6630

• Given the situation's sensitivity, I was notified and responded to

the scene to ensure that our officers handled this call with the
utmost respect for Councilwoman Sultana. As seen in the video,
I explained to my officers that I was there to oversee and accept
responsibility for the mandatory arrest and handle any pushback
from Ms. Sultana due to that arrest.
• Given the situation's sensitivity—not for any other reason—
Councilwoman Sultana was walked to the police cruiser
without handcuffs—a courtesy not usually afforded to arrested
persons.
• Based on the evidence collected on the scene, Ms. Sultana was
processed and brought before a judge to be arraigned.
• Following her release from our custody, the Easton Police
Department had no contact with the District Attorney and was
not involved in the case other than to indicate that we would not
oppose allowing for an ARD disposition in February of 2024.

Having been on the scene at the time of the incident and after
watching the Body-Worn Camera video, it is my opinion—however, each
person viewing the video can decide for themselves—that our officers acted
professionally, compassionately, and humanely towards not only
Councilwoman Sultana’s son, her other children and family members, but to
Councilwoman Sultana herself.
In short, the comments of Councilwoman Sultana that the response
and actions of our officers to a cry for help by her son were in some way
improper or unprofessional, or that the charges were somehow politically
motivated, is not only flatly wrong and in stark contrast to what is seen on
the BWC video, it is irresponsible, defamatory and offensive. These are
challenging times for law enforcement in our society. This profession and
the officers who choose to serve across this country are constantly under
attack, yet these men and women continuously answer the call when
community members need help.
City of Easton police department
Chief carl j. Scalzo
48 North 4th Street
Easton, Pa 18042
Fax # 610 250-3931
Phone # 610 250-6630

They don’t ask for praise, and They don’t ask for appreciation, but I
do not believe it fair to accuse these officers of racial bias or political bias
when it simply did not occur. It is well past time that government leaders,
political leaders, and even law enforcement leaders begin to stand up for
these officers and not only defend their actions when they do things the right
way but praise them for their willingness to stand in defense of all those who
need help. I can assure you our officers answered the call for help that
afternoon and they and this department deserve much better than what they
got in this instance.

Chief Carl J. Scalzo

Chief of Police
City of Easton Police Department