Second officer resigns after Gettysburg Taser incident

(Gettysburg) — Sergeant Larry Runk of Gettysburg Borough Police Department plans to resign, making him the most recent officer to leave the department since controversy erupted last year over an officer’s use of a Taser during an arrest, Gettysburg Borough manager Charles Gable confirmed Thursday.

Runk signed a resignation agreement Aug. 11, Gable said, and Friday will be his last day working for the borough.

He could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Although borough officials have declined to elaborate on Runk’s involvement in the Taser incident, Runk’s name was brought up in several meetings regarding what happened the night of the May 2015 arrest.

During that arrest, Officer Christopher Folster used a Taser on 28-year-old Derek Twyman as he refused to get out of his car during a traffic stop. Footage from the incident was captured on Folster’s body camera and shown at Twyman’s trial.

Twyman was ultimately acquitted of resisting arrest, a success he credits to the evidence captured by the camera.

Derek J. Twyman was arrested by Officer Christopher Folster, who was wearing a body camera as part of a test program for the Gettysburg Borough Police Department. Twyman was later acquitted of resisting arrest, a success he credits to this footage. Submitted

 Folster signed a resignation agreement in May in which the borough gave him $10,000, free legal defense, a clean personnel file, a pension and insurance coverage through the end of the fiscal year.

Gable declined to give details about Runk’s agreement with the borough, but The Evening Sun filed a Right-to-Know request Thursday seeking a copy of it.

Runk signed this agreement one day after the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records ruled that portions of a controversial report on the arrest and the way it was handled must be made public. Gettysburg Borough Council has 30 days to decide whether it will appeal that decision.

Runk has been with the department for three decades, even holding the position of acting chief in 2006, The Evening Sun reported at the time.

The Gettysburg Borough Police Department’s Facebook page posted an announcement about Runk’s plans to retire.

“The men and women of the Gettysburg Police Department would like to thank Sgt. Runk for his many years of service and his vast experience and knowledge he’s shared with us,” the post states. “We wish Sgt. Runk a stress free and very well deserved retirement.”

This article is part of a partnership between WITF and the Hanover Evening Sun.