Roger MacLean

Roger MacLean is an American police officer and politician who was president of the Allentown, Pennsylvania City Council and served as acting Allentown mayor until March 29, 2018. MacLean became the acting mayor on March 9, 2018 following the resignation of Ed Pawlowski, who was convicted on March 1, 2018 on 47 felony charges related to a pay-to-play scheme involving his asking for campaign donations in exchange for city contracts and favors.

From 2006 to 2013, MacLean served as the chief of police of the Allentown Police Department. In 2015, he was elected to Allentown's City Council, defeating incumbent Joe Davis.

Biography Personal life and education MacLean graduated from William Allen High School in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He earned a Master's degree in criminal justice from DeSales University in Center Valley, Pennsylvania.

Allentown Police Department From 1972 until 2013, Roger MacLean served as a police officer with the Allentown Police Department, including his final eight years as Chief of Police. He graduated from both the FBI National Academy and the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar. In 1974, he was promoted to a commissioned officer and served within the department's tactical squad, 1st Platoon, and the mounted patrol. Assistant Police Chief Joseph Hanna was named interim Police Chief until a permanent replacement for MacLean could be appointed.

Political career In 2014, MacLean switched his party affiliation from Republican to Democratic just before applying for a vacancy on the Allentown City Council. However, another candidate was selected to fill the vacant city council seat instead of MacLean. One year later, MacLean was elected to the Allentown City Council by defeating incumbent councilman Joe Davis in the 2015 election.

In 2016, MacLean voted a against a budget resolution, saying it increased Allentown's existing budget deficit. He was also one of just two council members who opposed a new city stormwater fee. Following the 2017 indictment of Mayor Ed Pawlowski on 54 pay-to-play charges, MacLean broke with his city council colleagues to oppose a resolution which urged federal investigator to speed up their investigation of Pawlowski. MacLean also voted against a proposal to hire an attorney to consult on potentially removing Mayor Pawlowski from office. Though he voted against these proposals, MacLean and Pawlowski had a strained relationship dating back to his tenure as police chief.

On January 2, 2018, MacLean was unanimously elected President of the Allentown City Council by its members. The leadership role on the city council meant that MacLean would become acting mayor in the event that Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski resigned or was removed from office. MacLean's election as city council president came just weeks before Mayor Pawlowski was scheduled to go on trial, starting January 16, 2018, on 54 pay-to-play charges.

On March 1, 2018, Mayor Ed Pawlowski was convicted on 47 of the 54 charges related to pay-to-play scheme he operated from office. Pawloski's convictions, all felonies, included conspiracy, as well as multiple counts of bribery, attempted extortion, making false statements to federal officials, honest services fraud, mail fraud, and wire fraud. Pawloski resigned from office on Thursday, March 9, 2018. In accordance with the city's home charter rule, MacLean became acting Mayor of Allentown on March 9 upon Pawlowski's resignation. MacLean served as acting mayor until March 29, 2018, when Pawlowski's permanent successor, Ray O'Connell, was chosen. O'Connell will serve until the 2019 mayoral election.