Dunmore Borough Council appointed Martin Monahan as Dunmore police chief at a meeting on Sept. 14, following his more than three decades of experience in law enforcement.
Council members Michael A. Dempsey, William “Trip” O’Malley, Katherine Mackrell-Oven, Beth McDonald Zangardi, Janet Brier and Patrick “Nibs” Loughney voted in favor of the new hire. Council President Thomas J. Hallinan abstained because his wife works for the Dunmore Police Department.
Both Mayor Max Conway and Lackawanna County District Attorney Brian Gallagher said they look forward to working alongside the seasoned officer.
“For more than a decade, I prosecuted arson and homicide cases, which gave me the opportunity to work very closely with Marty Monahan in his roles as a Scranton fire marshal and detective. Marty is dedicated, hardworking, and the ultimate team player. He is a person of the highest integrity,” Gallagher said.
“He will be an outstanding police chief and a tremendous addition to Dunmore and the law enforcement community in Lackawanna County.”
Conway emphasized that not only does Monahan have a vast amount of law enforcement experience, but he knows Dunmore.
“He has a great reputation for his character, integrity and leadership,” Conway said. “I think he’ll be a great fit for our offices and our community, and I’m looking forward to working with him.”
The move comes about five months after the retirement of longtime Police Chief Sal Marchese in May, concluding a 36-year career at the department that included 13 years as chief.
Following Marchese’s retirement, police Capt. Richard Barth was named acting police chief following several interviews, while the department conducted a search for its next chief.
Monahan joined the Scranton Police Department in 1997 and was named its fire marshal inspector in the criminal investigations division in 2004. In 2023 he became deputy chief of police, retiring from the department in 2024.
Hallinan said Monahan’s experience and commitment will continue the tradition of strong leadership of the borough’s Police Department.
Monahan’s appointment is subject to a finalized contract, which has not yet been signed, Conway said.