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Leader Times Reporter to Become FC Police Secretary

Leader Times Staff Reporter Sarah Hepfl was approved by Council to be the new Police Secretary of Ford City Borough. (KP File Photo)

by David Croyle

Ford City Borough Council voted last night to hire Leader Times staff reporter Sarah Hepfl as their new part-time police secretary.

Under the plan proposed by Mayor Jeff Cogley and Police Chief Roger Wright, Hepfl will work at the discretion of Wright at a pay rate of $10.25 per hour, not to exceed 25 hours per week. The hiring is contingent upon successful background check, drug testing, and a physical. Hepfl will be placed on a 90-day probationary period.

Wright said he and the Mayor consulted Council’s personnel committee on the recommendation to hire Hepfl.

“There were interviews conducted, and after deliberation, she was chosen as the most qualified candidate.”

Hepfl was one of five candidates who applied for the job, including applicants from Kittanning, Worthington and Apollo.

“The majority of them were local,” Wright said.

Hepfl graduated Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelors Degree in English Writing Studies in December 2015. She worked for only several weeks for Family-Life Media-Com before moving to the Leader Times.

Hepfl has no previous criminal justice or law enforcement/legal secretarial jobs prior to this Ford City appointment.

Previous employment included a caregiver position with Evergreen Homes from July 2014 until September 2015. She also worked as a lead staff member of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania in 2013-2014.

Hepfl’s hiring was approved by five of the council members, with Councilwoman Kathy Bartuccio voting no.

It was unclear following last night’s meeting if Hepfl will continue her employment with the Leader Times. An advertisement at indeed.com shows the newspaper is already conducting a search for another full-time staff reporter.

Ford City’s hiring of a police secretary came just a few weeks after Kittanning Borough hired a new police secretary from a list of 18 applicants. Kittanning Council hired area resident Jeanne Andreassi as their full-time police secretary.