BUFFALO TWP — Township officials say there is no issue using a part-time police officer who left Saxonburg seven years ago under controversy.

Erik Bergstrom, who was among several part-timers hired in the last few weeks, resigned from Saxonburg in 2009 after reaching a settlement agreement with the borough.

Township Supervisor Gary Risch, who oversees the police department, stressed Bergstrom was never accused of doing anything illegal.

“The guy may have or may not have made a mistake,” Risch said.

He said Bergstrom works no more than two shifts a week, which amounts to 16 hours at most.

When Bergstrom left Saxonburg, he was in the middle of a disciplinary hearing process when new evidence of alleged misconduct was presented to his attorney.

Lt. Tim Derringer, officer-in-charge of Buffalo police, defended Bergstrom, echoing Risch’s comments.

“He was never charged with a crime,” Derringer said.

Derringer pointed out Bergstrom works for Fawn Township and UPMC.

“He’s more than qualified to work for our department,” Derringer said.

While the officer-in-charge of Saxonburg police, Bergstrom allegedly committed 10 infractions, including altering a criminal complaint, falsifying time sheets and visiting a sex personals website from his work computer.

Risch said even before Bergstrom was hired, the police computers were set to have limitations placed on them, so they couldn’t be used for random Internet use.

“There’s no way any of the officers can do anything,” Risch said about computer use aside from police business.

According to Risch, Bergstrom was hired this year due to a shortage in department manpower after two officers died.

“We were really short on people,” Risch said.

He said Bergstrom knows the township and gets along with the other officers.

Derringer agreed Bergstrom’s hiring is positive for Buffalo.

“I think he’s going to do a good job for the municipality,” Derringer said.

Former township Supervisor Dan Przybylek resigned from the board in March 2012, citing his fellow supervisors’ attempt to hire Bergstrom then.

Supervisor Al Roenigk, who also protested a possible 2012 hiring, voted against hiring Bergstrom this year.

“I hadn’t changed my mind,” Roenigk said. “I let them know that.”