In office little more than two weeks, Hogan said he "needed to reorganize to establish what a modern prosecutor's office should be." He is accomplishing this, he said, "through the lens of budget constraints."
In many counties, employees of the district attorney's office typically resign and have to be rehired when there is a new boss, Hogan said. He acknowledged that the sweeping changes he has instituted, including the addition of a drug unit and the downsizing of the child abuse unit, were "unprecedented." But shake-ups, he said, can be positive.
One of the terminated prosecutors, former Deputy District Attorney Robert L. Miller, suggested he was fired for refusing to "soft-pedal" a case involving the son of a partner in Hogan's former law office. Brian O'Neill, 22, son of Thomas O'Neill, a partner in the Lamb McErlane firm, was convicted of homicide by vehicle in August 2010 in connection with a double-fatal car crash.
Hogan called Miller's accusation "categorically untrue." He said he could not elaborate because the firing of the 24-year veteran prosecutor was "an internal personnel matter."
Hogan's Democratic rival in the district attorney's race, lawyer Sam Stretton, suggested months ago that if Hogan were elected, Miller's job would likely be in jeopardy. After the election, Miller said, he asked Hogan if his employment were secure and was told it was.
On Tuesday, Carroll praised Miller, citing his "exemplary representation for Chester County" in roles ranging from trial lawyer to mentor.
Hogan said he was receiving positive feedback from the law-enforcement community for promoting Chester County Detective Kevin Dykes to lieutenant as well as for returning three former assistant district attorneys to the office.
Julie Hess will continue as an assistant district attorney, and Michael Noone has been named first assistant district attorney. Charles Gaza will serve as chief of staff, a new position.
Besides Miller, others who lost their jobs to the restructuring, and who were unavailable or declined comment, were Lt. James Brooks and former Assistant District Attorneys John Pavloff, Edward Gallen, and Norman Pine.
In addition, administrative assistant Barbara Babbs has been replaced by Barbara Billela.
Contact staff writer Kathleen Brady Shea at 610-696-3815, kbrady@phillynews.com,
or @brandywinebits
on Twitter. Read her blog, "Chester County Inbox," at www.philly.com/chescoinbox.
