Investigation 'merited' termination of Sam McClure

HOLLIDAYSBURG -- Blair County Commissioners elaborated further on their decision to remove acting Sheriff Sam McClure from office Tuesday.

According to a news release from the commissioners' office, the investigation stemmed from McClure admitting to kissing a county employee. Commissioners said the results of the investigation "merited" his removal.

The statement said that to avoid costly ongoing litigation, commissioners decided to contact Gov. Tom Wolf to request that nominee for sheriff position be made before the 90-day period after the January retirement of Sheriff Mitchell Cooper.

"There were no winners in this tragic occurrence, which has hurt so many and hurt the county as well. We believe that the best interests of the citizens of Blair County were utmost in the eventual actions and resolution of this matter," the statement said in-part.

McClure was put on paid leave at the beginning of the investigation in mid-March.

The commissioners removed him from office April 4. After Wolf made a nomination Friday, McClure's attorney, Paul Puskar, dropped his injunction against the commissioners, calling it "moot."

Following his removal, McClure said he will focus his intentions on his campaign for sheriff.

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