SUNBURY - Three Sunbury police officers involved in Wednesday's chase that ended with a police officer shooting a 17-year-old have been placed on administrative leave, Chief Stephen Mazzeo said.
"The officers met with a counselor today, and will also meet with a police psychologist," he said Wednesday.
The officers involved have not been identified. Also, state police, who issued a report on the incident, did not identify what officer fired the shot, but it is believed it could be one of the city officers.
Mazzeo said state police are handling the investigation.
"We requested them come in and take over," he said. "That way, there can be no accusation of improprieties."
Northumberland County District Attorney Tony Rosini said having a different agency investigate a shooting incident involving police is standard procedure.
Those investigating will conduct interviews, review medical reports and analyze scene reconstructions. Once a report is complete, it will be turned over to Rosini and his staff.
"After that, we will review the report and make the determination on whether the force taken was appropriate," Rosini said.
Based on preliminary information, the district attorney said it appeared appropriate action was taken, but he would not make an official comment because the incident is still under investigation.
Mazzeo said the three officers involved were checked out at a local hospital, and one was treated and released for a minor head injury.
He said they'll remain on leave until further notice.
"Once the police and the D.A.'s office get done with their investigation, we will go from there, based on their determination," he said.
Questions about the use of force by police were raised last week when, on May 28, members of a U.S. Marshals Task Force shot 52 rounds at fugitive ex-police officer Anthony Galla at a motel room near Philadelphia. Galla, who was pointing a semi-automatic pistol at police, was killed. He was sought by police after an incident at his ex-girlfriend's home in Mount Carmel earlier in the day in which police said he fired seven shots from about six feet away at her new boyfriend, striking him once in the foot, as he lay beside a bed.
The Delaware County district attorney's office is investigating that police shooting.