Radnor officials, residents horrified by pol’s arrest for child porn
RADNOR » At a hastily called press conference Wednesday evening, Commissioner Elaine Schaefer, the acting board of commissioners president, said that she left messages via text and email calling on disgraced board President Phil Ahr to resign. Schaefer said that she gave Ahr, who was arraigned on numerous charges related to child pornography, until Friday to step down or the board will call an emergency meeting to remove him from the post.
Township Manager Robert Zienkowski read a statement saying that he is “shocked, saddened, sickened and angered” over the contents of an affidavit of probable cause released by Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan.
“I know that this came as a shock to the residents of Radnor, as it did to me,” said Zienkowski. “But I want to assure our residents that we were in constant contact with the Criminal Investigation Division and at no time were any of our residents, especially our children, in any type of danger by Mr. Ahr.”
Zienkowski said that he had authorized increased police patrols in the Ward 7 area where Ahr lives. Although the affidavit and search warrant were sealed prior to being released on Wednesday, Joe Ryan, county detective chief, told Radnor Police Superintendent William Colarulo that the public was not in danger.
“It appears at this time that all of Mr. Ahr’s illegal acts were done via the computer and over the Internet and not in the public domain,” Zienkowski said.
Ahr, 66, a Democrat, was
“Whether Commissioner Ahr is ultimately exonerated or convicted of these heinous charges, he should unselfishly resign from the board and allow his constituents to have representation. To stay on during his trial would confirm, in the eyes of thousands of residents, his inability to show compassion for his constituents.” — Resident Christina Perrone
first elected free on bail.
Colarulo said that as a long-time law enforcement officer, a father and grandfather, he found the allegations against Ahr “sickening and saddening” and called for justice to be done. Although Ahr has no prior criminal record, if convicted of these felony child pornography charges, he could be sentenced to more than 100 years in prison, Colarulo said in response to a reporter’s question.
Like the rest of the Radnor community Schaefer said that she is “devastated and confused” by the arrest of a “fellow commissioner.” And her “thoughts and prayers” are with the in 2015. He is victims and their families. She assured the public that township business will not be affected.
Commissioner Luke Clark said that as a father, “I’m disgusted and horrified by what I read” in the affidavit. He called on Ahr to resign immediately and echoed Schaefer to say the board will take action if he doesn’t. However, Clark said later that the board can only remove Ahr from his post as president but cannot force him to resign unless he’s convicted.
Commissioner Richard Booker, who was also present, said that he made a motion at the Monday night meeting to remove Ahr from the presidency, which failed after the three Democratic commissioners did not support it.
Schaefer said that she voted against Booker’s motion Monday because charges had not yet been filed against Ahr.
“It is shocking that so many elected officials, all Democrats, have come repeatedly to be the subjects of formal ethical complaints, and now, criminal charges and convictions,” Booker said.
“This is not a case of a single ‘bad apple,’” Booker said. “It is instead a clear pattern of misconduct by individual Democrat officials that stretches from the petty to the profoundly disgusting. As recently as last Monday evening, the board majority defended Commissioner Ahr and refused to vote for a replacement president, in their attempt to retain political power. As the township’s name and reputation is again dragged through the mud by the Democrat president and board majority, we are once again reminded that ‘character matters.’ We must come together as a township and a board, to right the ship, and to forge a path forward with new leadership.”
Some Ward 7 residents came to the press conference and offered their thoughts.
“It’s a sad day for us,” said Jane Galli. The crimes Ahr is charged with are “unconscionable and unbelievable.” Ward 7, which includes Garrett Hill, Rosemont and parts of Villanova, has always been a safe area where children could play on the streets, she said.
Sara Pilling said, “I really feel betrayed. Garrett Hill has been through a lot.”
It’s a small community where neighbors help each other and that feeling of community is why she’s lived there for more than 30 years, Pilling said.
And Toni Bailey said that she’s known Ahr for years through working with him on various township committees. She called the charges “shocking.” When Bailey heard the allegations earlier in the day, she said it was “stunning, gut-wrenching, like somebody kicked me in the chest.”
Another resident
“Whether Commissioner Ahr is ultimately exonerated or convicted of these heinous charges, he should unselfishly resign from the board and allow his constituents to have representation,” said Christina Perrone. “To stay on during his trial would confirm, in the eyes of thousands of residents, his inability to show compassion for his constituents.” also reacted.