District Attorney Joseph Carroll reminded Coatesville council Tuesday night that Police Chief William Matthews still has not received mandatory police certification and will soon be in violation of his employment contract.

"It that means anything," said Carroll, referring to the contract.

Carroll repeatedly referred to the section of Matthews contract that calls for the former head of the Baltimore Housing Authority police department to obtain police certification, commonly referred to Act 120 training, within six months of his hiring date.

"He has nine days left to complete a 186-hour course," said Carroll. Holding up a schedule of those institutions that offer Act 120 training, Carroll said there is no place where Matthews could obtain the training and remain in compliance with his contract.

Matthews, 59, is on vacation and didn't attend Tuesday night's council meeting.

Carroll said Matthews not being certified goes beyond his lack of arrest powers, it goes to his ability to lead. "He has not received the minimum training in Pennsylvania law . . . the crime code, vehicle , criminal procedures and other topics," said Carroll.

He added: "It isn't that the chief lacks arrests powers. He doesn't have the background in Pennsylvania law to evaluate cases and evaluate how other officers are doing."

Council Member Kirk Shank has defended Matthews, saying the city hired Matthews to run the police department not to go out on the streets and make arrests. Schenk claimed the police department was "a mess" prior to Matthew's arrival, a statement bitterly denied by Caroll. Matthews replaced Dom Bellizzie who resigned because of a personal lack of trust in the so-called Block of Four.

Tuesday night was the second consecutive council meeting Carroll attended since turning out along with some 200 police officers to question Matthews ability to run the police department and to show support for Lt. Matt Gordon who had been demoted and placed on administrative lead by Matthews. Gordon has since filed suit. And, he has requested a public hearing before council.

At that meeting, Kevin Moore, past president of FOP Lodge 11 and a West Brandywine township resident, said Matthews should be certified. "If you want to act like a cop, if you want to carry a gun like a cop, if you want respect like a cop, you have to be a cop," he said.

Carroll, a Republican, won reelection last Tuesday, Nov. 6. He was the lead vote getter on the GOP ticket. At election headquarters, Carroll said his reelection meant that Coatesville council members would continue to see a lot of him. "I plan to be at a lot of me."