Wolf’s controversial pick to lead Pa. police to appear before state Senate panel

One of Gov. Tom Wolf’s most controversial cabinet nominees will go before a state Pennsylvania Senate committee Wednesday  morning.

Acting State Police Commissioner Marcus Brown will face questions from the Senate Law and Justice panel — made up of seven Republicans and four Democrats — as part of the nomination process.

 

Some former state troopers have taken issue with Brown’s decision to wear a trooper’s uniform because he didn’t rise through Pennsylvania’s ranks.

He has spent most of his career with Baltimore’s police force while his family lived in Camp Hill.

Brown removed signs critical of his nomination that were placed near his Cumberland County home by a retired state trooper in March. A midstate district attorney declined to press charges, instead saying both men should have known better.

Meanwhile, Wolf is trying to put the focus back on Brown’s experience as former head of the Maryland State Police.

“I think on the basis, just on the strength of his resume, his qualifications, his background, I think he deserves to be, his nomination should be confirmed,” Wolf said Tuesday, speaking on Radio Pennsylvania’s Ask the Governor Program.

“He is a courageous person and is willing to go through this, the slings and arrows he’s taken, and I applaud him for that,” the governor said. “And I could do nothing less than stand with him in this and I intend to do that.”

The Senate committee will vote to recommend Brown, offer no opinion, or attach a negative rating.Brown’s nomination will then go to the full Senate, where a simple majority is needed to approve the nomination.

Some Republican senators have said Brown lacks enough votes for confirmation.