The trooper convicted in the
death of Kenneth Fowler'will no
longer be employed by state
police' after today.

By ROB WALTERS
Daily Record staff

   Five months after a crash killed motorcyclist Kenneth Fowler, the short career of Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Gerald T. Devlin will end.
   Devlin, 30, who's still on probation as an officer, "will no longer be employed by state police" after today, according to Jack Lewis, a state police spokesman in Harrisburg.
   Citing personnel confidentiality, Lewis would not say if Devlin resigned or was fired from his $37,000-per-year job. But Fowler's widow, Gayle Fowler, said she was told by a lieutenant Thursday that state police decided to release Devlin.
   "He told me that they had made the decision to let him go and (Friday) would be his last day," said Fowler, who was paid $450,000 by state police in May to avoid a civil suit.
   "I'm certainly pleased the department has made that decision. I believe they've done the right thing."
   Fowler said she was told if Devlin wanted his job back, he would have to file a civil suit. She said Devlin would not be allowed to appeal directly tothe state police.
   Devlin graduated from the police academy in May 1997. Ten months later, on March 29, his police cruiser crossed onto the wrong side of Route 851 in Codorus Township and smashed into Fowler's motorcycle.
   Fowler, 39, of Monkton, Md., died on the spot. Devlin's colleagues estimated he was driving 58 mph when he lost control in a curve, where the recommended speed is 30 mph.
   In June, Devlin was convicted of reckless driving, driving at an unsafe speed and driving on the wrong side of the road during atrial at District Justice James Miner's office in Penn Township.
   Devlin is appealing his conviction, which carries a fine of $403.50. A Sept.30 hearing is scheduled in the York County Court of Common Pleas.
   Gayle Fowler said she was surprised state police dismissed Devlin before his case settled. State police previously said the investigation would be ongoing until Devlin exhausted his appeals.
   "I just hope the appeals process doesn't allow him to get his foot back in the door," said Leslie Vaughan, Kenneth Fowler's brother-in-law who lives in Vermont.
   "You've got to accept responsibility for your actions."
   Since the collision, the trooper has been working desk duties at the state police barracks in Loganville.
   It's unclear if Devlin would be eligible to work as an officer with an otherpolice agency, but York County District Attorney H. Stanley Rebert said it's possible.
   "I don't know if this would be a prohibition against that, but I don't think it would be," Rebert said.
   On Thursday, Devlin did not return a message left for him at the Loganville barracks, and no one answered the door to his Dillsburg home. Devlin's criminal defense attorney, John Mancke of Harrisburg, was on vacation and could not be reached for comment.
   Devlin has declined comment in the past.
Daily Record staff writer Teresa Ann Boeckel contributed to thisreport.