Police chief says Scott Neuhaus immediately placed on administrative leave
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
Officer Scott Neuhaus
A Downingtown police officer was placed on administrative leave following his arrest on Saturday by Philadelphia Police at a downtown strip club, authorities said.
Downingtown Police Chief James R. McGowan said he was notified by Philadelphia Police about 2:30 a.m. on Saturday that Officer Scott A. Neuhaus had been involved in a domestic assault and resisted arrest at Delilah’s. McGowan said he apologized to the Philadelphia lieutenant with whom he spoke, telling him that “this is not how the Downingtown department operates and this is not representative of our officers or the values we instill.”
McGowan said Neuhaus, 40, a seven-year member of the department who worked previously for the Coatesville Police Department, will continue to be paid; however, his electronic access to all department materials has been curtailed. McGowan said Neuhaus’s gun was returned to the department by Philadelphia Police, who confiscated it. “He’s entitled to due process,” McGowan said of Neuhaus, who began working in the fall as the school resource officer for the Downingtown district. “And he’ll get it.”
According to court records, Neuhaus was charged with disorderly conduct with obscene language or gesture, a summary offense. A hearing in Philadelphia is scheduled for Feb. 24, records said.
McGowan said that the department would conduct an internal investigation and that Neuhaus would have an opportunity to defend himself. A decision on Neuhaus’s future with the department will ultimately rest with Borough Council, McGowan said, explaining that he will make a recommendation based on the results of the investigation.
According to its website, Delilah’s bills itself as a “gentlemen’s club and steakhouse.” It boasts being “a premiere destination for business travelers, celebrities, and uninhibited Philadelphians,” with the world’s “most beautiful showgirls, barmaids, servers, shot girls and masseuses.”
No one said he didn’t accept the mistake, own it and move on…..no one was making excuses for what happened. My problem with the press is they did not print a true and actual account of what happened….they sensationalized the entire incident. And people like you decide you are judge and jury based on that article filled with inaccurate data. The other comments in your post are not worth a response.
Ok Kimberly, here is the situation. Whether or not a person decides to go to a strip club is their business, however-
When you choose a profession where you are in the public eye and are held to a higher standard, that is your choice. Here is what I do know, and clearly I do. That in the City of Philadelphia, where (obviously you don’t know) there is a pretty high burden to get a Disorderly Conduct citation. That tells me that there were enough warnings given to desist and it didn’t happen. It is not a reflection on the DPD who do an excellent job, but the conduct of one individual that brought him to the attention of the Philadelphia Police. Do you think for one iota of a second that a PDP officer is going to take the time to write a DC citation unless it rose to that level? And gentlemans club? If that is what you tell yourself because your husband/boyfriend/SO goes to one- hey if it helps you sleep.
Now for the rest, one mistake does not wipe out an entire career of good works. But, stop having people make excuses and blame the press. Accept the mistake, own it and move on.
First of all, one newspaper writes a story first, and the rest grab the information from that one. The headlines are to get the interest of the people who like to hear things like this.
Example: Not saying this person wasn’t in that club (don’t know), but does anyone mention that the parking lot he was supposedly arrested in is in the same row with a florist shop and a Wawa? Of course not. That wouldn’t sell papers. Do the papers mention his wife was with him and (heaven forbid) they were arguing? That there was no physical contact? Of course not. Newspapers LOVE to have a police story. So do you think it deserved front page…maybe because it was a slow night for news?
Let’s not judge.
People can have their opinions on what they read in newspapers. Whether the story has the right information is always the question. My problem is when people attack a persons character. Yes, I have known Scott Neuhaus for a long time. Scott is a great coach for the Whippits, and the kids are eager to play on his team. I have seen Scott in his new role with D’town Police, and he loves dealing with the kids. I think people need to realize that police officers are human, and they put their pants on the same way as everyone else. Police Officers do make mistakes and are held to a higher standard.
Everyone does make mistakes, however, a police officer, especially one working at a high school and coaching, is looked at with higher expectations. I know for a fact that the kids in high school are chatting about it. I feel bad for his children and his wife. How humiliating for them.
police officer with a duty weapon at a strip club,in a domestic assault., resting arrest per other news sites. seems like he got a little break on the charge. I want to know who the other girl was his wife or a stripper girlfirend. Should juicy to me. Either way classy.
He will keep his job! Next time he should take the mayor who had a DUI. Them two would be a blast to go out with! Downingtow loves strippers and alcohol. I want a job there
Everyone messes up at one time or another…I’ve been arrested by this officer ( for a d.u.I. in which I was completley guilty of…this officer was kind and understood my position …its not ridiculous of a human to make mistakes and proceed to get angry about said mistakes made….you all need to take a look at yourselves and think about what mistakes you have made …and think what you’d comment on an article about you. Stop being polite, stop being judgemental and start being real.
Ok Dirk Diggler……again you should not judge anyone without knowing all the facts (which btw you clearly don’t)…..You are obviously one of those people that believes whatever is written in the press, without any regard for the actual truth. Your ignorance and self righteous comments on married men and gentlemen’s club is laughable. Last but not least the men and women that work at DPD are the best of the best but let’s not forget that they are human.
So…I guess a married man being in a strip club getting a ticket from police (who just happened to be there I guess) while poseessing his duty weapon (according to the article) shows excellent judgement?
Yep, maybe innocent of a crime but definately not in line with the values of the DPD I wold assume.
Andrea, I totally agree with you. Let’s not forget – innocent until proven guilt!! We are still in the United States, right?
b/c phila police needed time to review the details (cameras) to really see what happened. there’s ALOT more to this story than what really happened. he walked out with a ticket.
FYI…a “summary offense” is equivalent to/less than a speeding ticket. He basically got a ticket for cursing in public…did not get arrested. don’t believe everything you read. you should know that by now.
If that’s all he did, why did Philadelphia Police contact Downingtown Police, and why did the Downingtown chief immediately place him on administrative leave?
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone….seems you are pretty quick to throw rocks without knowing the full story.
He’s also the police officer for Dowbingtown high school. Awesome. He owns a day care as well
Yep, and coaches youth football. Nice.
Yea in like WC or Exton area
Yeah, he’s got a daycare in the Downingtown, Exton area.
Doesn’t he own a daycare?!?