Chesco chief detective is on mysterious leave
Chester County officials cannot assign the chief detective to this missing-person's mystery because he's the one who's disappeared - at least from the courthouse.
Chester County officials cannot assign the chief detective to this missing-person's mystery because he's the one who's disappeared - at least from the courthouse.
Albert L. DiGiacomo, who has headed the county detectives for nearly a decade and is listed in that role on the county Web site, has not been seen on the job in over a month.
"I have no comment on that at this time," said county spokeswoman Evelyn Walker.
Callers to DiGiacomo's county office telephone are advised to leave a message since the receptionist has no clue about when he might return. A message on DiGiacomo's county-issued cell phone refers callers to a new number.
DiGiacomo, 59, a longtime Philadelphia police detective commander before coming to Chester County in June 1999, did not return calls to any of his phones.
Mystified employees said substantial evidence suggests DiGiacomo won't be coming back. They say he turned in his company car, removed personal effects from the old courthouse, and never moved to the county's new Justice Center a couple of weeks ago.
DiGiacomo's vanishing act has not been all-encompassing, however. He has continued his part-time job at West Chester University, where he teaches in the criminal justice department, a university spokesperson said.
Chester County Controller Val DiGiorgio said yesterday that DiGiacomo is still collecting his annual salary of $103,150.
When asked about the extended absence, DiGiorgio initially suggested DiGiacomo could be on vacation; however, after checking records, he said DiGiacomo "has been working under other absence approved by his superior" for the last two two-week pay periods.
DiGiacomo's superior, District Attorney Joseph W. Carroll, did not crack the case, either.
"I have no comment," he said.
Inquirer staff writer Nancy Petersen contributed to this article.
