The Hummelstown police officer facing a criminal homicide charge in the fatal shooting of an unarmed man has been suspended without pay from her position with the department.

Lisa Mearkle, 36, a 14-year veteran officer with the department, has been suspended, effective immediately, while her case moves through the court system.

Mearkle is charged in the death of 59-year-old David A. Kassick, who was shot twice in the back on Feb. 2 behind a South Hanover Township home.

The altercation followed an attempted traffic stop for expired inspection tags. Kassick fled from the stop and Mearkle pursued, police said.

The borough released Mearkle's employment status, which is in line with the Pennsylvania Confidence in Law Enforcement Act that requires officers' suspension when charged with certain crimes, in a prepared news release on Wednesday.

The borough will have no further comment related to Mearkle's status with the department and involvement in the case, according to the statement.

If convicted of a felony or serious misdemeanor in connection with the shooting, Mearkle will face termination, according to the act.

Previously, Mearkle was placed on three weeks of paid administrative leave and then paid administrative duty as law enforcement conducted an investigation into the shooting.

Mearkle was charged Tuesday and, after being initially denied bail, released from custody on $250,000 bail. The bail, online court records show, was posted by a professional bondsman.

Dauphin County President Judge Richard A. Lewis granted the bail request, but also required Mearkle to wear an electronic monitoring device as a result of the release.