Fired Policeman Hires Lawyer To Get Job Back

A Jefferson County police officer fired last year after a suspect died inside his patrol car is taking legal action to get his job back.

Former Punxsutawney police officer Brian Andrekovich was fired in November, about three months after 48-year-old Stephen Obbish was found dead in his squad car on Aug. 15.

State prosecutors said Tuesday they would not charge Andrekovich with any crime and Andrekovich hired a labor attorney to try to get his job back at the Punxsutawney Borough Police Department.

Obbish was arrested about 9:50 a.m. for disorderly conduct and was found dead in the same police cruiser about 3 p.m. that day. A coroner said Obbish died from a combination of his own medications and a blood-alcohol content nearly four times the legal limit.

Andrekovich joined his attorney, Ralph Montana, on Wednesday morning for an impromptu press conference on the steps of the Jefferson County Courthouse.

Montana said Andrekovich parked his squad car in a carport at the police station and lowered the windows. He said Andrekovich kept a close eye on Obbish throughout the day and several other officers checked in on the man. Montana said Obbish was not taken to the hospital because he didn't show signs of any medical problems other than being intoxicated.

"There are are surveillance (cameras) that would keep an eye on him. There were at least 18-20 times that he was checked upon," Montana said.

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Previous Stories: March 16, 2010: Ex-Punxsutawney Officer Won't Be Charged In Death