The Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Police and Delaware County have thrown their legal support behind state receiver Michael Doweary who is handling Chester’s financial problems, supporting his request that the city’s elected officials be stripped of their duties.

Both filed amicus curiae briefs, known as “friend of the court”, with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, siding with the receiver, writes Kathleen E. Carey for the Daily Times.

The Court is hearing Chester’s appeal of a Commonwealth Court decision granting Receiver Michael Doweary expanded administrative duties.

The FOP filing stated that Chester failed to comply with statutory requirements to keep the pension for city law enforcement officers financially solvent.

The police pension is facing a $40 million deficit after the city stopped making consistent payments between 2013 and 2020.

Michael Doweary was appointed receiver in June 2020 after then-Gov. Tom Wolf declared a fiscal emergency for Chester and asked him to create a recovery plan.

“The existing ways of doing things with the Mayor giving discretionary powers to councilpersons to administer departments will not solve the problems facing the City,” stated the Delaware County filing. “The fiscal emergency will only be solved if the Receiver has the power to push forward solutions as set forth in the recovery plan.”

Read more about the filings in the Daily Times.