Former State Trooper Named Manor Corporal

by Jonathan Weaver

Manor Township Police promoted its first officer to the rank of corporal last night.

Effective at the supervisors’ monthly meeting, Officer Eric Petrosky filled the new position established last month.

Petrosky – who also started part-time last month – will assume the duties of Police Sgt. Terry Bish while he is not on duty.

“The department’s growing. We’re adding more hours, we want to put more (officers on the street), and we need to have somebody that could make the administrative decisions while he is out,” Sgt. Bish said last month. “I’m not available all the time, Chief (Mike Karabin) is not available all the time, so this adds an individual that can make decisions and move the department forward.”

A trio of part-time officers applied and was interviewed by supervisors during the middle of June.

Supervisor Don Palmer motioned for Petrosky, 48, to be promoted.

“(Petrosky) spent a lot of time in the State Police. From the day that we hired him, he’s hit the ground running wanting to improve the police department here,” Palmer said. “He’s very interested in keeping Manor Township safe, and I think his personality is just what our police department needs to improve the way we do business.

“All the candidates were very good; all of them were highly qualified.”

Petrosky – a retired Pennsylvania State Police trooper who retired in April after 25 years and ascended to the rank of Master Trooper - worked for various stations throughout the state, including in Greene County (Waynesburg), Allegheny County (Gibsonia) and at the Kittanning barracks in Armstrong.

“I stayed on patrol my whole career,” Petrosky said. “I enjoy the patrol. They’re the first to be able to react to incidents, the first able to help the public out. They get there, calm the incident down, secure the incident – they have a lot more impact.”
Petrosky – a 1986 Ford City graduate who still lives with a Ford City address – explained why he applied to be a Manor Township police officer and later a corporal.

“I’m still young enough to be able to do the job, healthy enough to do the job. We have some problems in this county with drugs (but) I’m still young enough to make a difference,” Petrosky said. “I’m invested in this county. I want it to be a better community.”

Petrosky said he has also assumed the duties of other supervisors while a State Police trooper and felt he was qualified for the position while also helping his fellow part-time officers.

“I care about the job - I love the job – and thought I could make a difference and help influence them to do a better job for the community,” Petrosky said.

Chief Mike Karabin agreed with the supervisors’ unanimous decision.

“He’s an outstanding officer. We’re just glad to have him,” Chief Karabin said. “With the added hours coming, there (are) a lot of things that need to be taken care of during daylight we’re not able to take care of because we have other jobs.

“Being a retired State trooper, he’s a definite asset to our department.”

Sgt. Bish said last month as many as 10 internal officers could have applied for the position. Petrosky was the last to interview, June 22.

Petrosky – who also was a platoon sergeant with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard and served 13 months in Iraq- is Manor Township’s first corporal. Sgt. Bish was promoted to sergeant in 1998.

Petrosky’s wife of 11 years, Whitney, also attended last night’s meeting. She reaffirmed that her husband wants to make a difference in the community, especially for their two sons – seven-year-old Max and five-year-old Jack.

Petrosky’s new pay rate has not yet been established.

While Petrosky was promoted, the department did lose a part-time officer due to resignation.

Officer Roger Wright resigned effective Tuesday due to his full-time duties as police chief in neighboring Ford City Borough.

According to Chief Karabin’s monthly report, the department took part in more than 200 activities during June, including issuing 13 citations and responding to two burglaries and a drug act.

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