Resumes Being Accepted for Full-Time Police Chief in Manor Township

by Jonathan Weaver

Along with increasing police hours in 2017 and potentially adding more personnel to the force, Manor Township could also name its first full-time police chief.

Following an executive session, supervisors Paul Rearick, Don Palmer and Robert Southworth unanimously agreed to start accepting applications for the full-time position.

“I love the direction this police department is going in right now. Everything’s working great – professionalism is here,” Rearick said. “I want to continue that, and I think now might be the time prior to the January meeting.

“I think that will not only show a commitment to the residents, but also to the (police officers). We’re moving forward and trying to upgrade. They’re doing their job.”

Supervisors also pondered advertising for a full-time chief in February.

More than $150,000 is budgeted for public safety in the proposed 2017 budget – including a five-year high designated for police officers’ salary.

Resumes are currently being accepted by Manor Township police personnel until the end of the day today. Resumes from outside officials will be accepted until December 13.

“We don’t have to hire if we don’t think there’s an appropriate applicant,” Rearick added.

If a full-time police chief is hired, they will be eligible for insurance coverage but not overtime.

While supervisors primarily agreed, they revealed their thoughts to current part-time police chief Michael Karabin first. Chief Karabin has been with the department a reported-25 years, with Police Sergeant Terry Bish an officer for 20 years.

“We’re not terminating anyone – we’re just moving our department forward,” Rearick added.

With Manor Township scheduling more than 500 duty hours in January, a full-time police chief could amass 40 of the 125 hours per week and the rest could be up to 10 part-time police officers.

With those extra hours in the department’s six-figure annual budget, Sergeant Bish and Police Corporal Eric Petrosky will also apply for a federal Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant through the U.S. Department of Justice.

According to the grant parameters, funding would be provided for most of a full time officer’s salary during the course of three years.

Supervisors set the advertised full-time police chief wage at $37,500.

3 Comments

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  By ktown_kid, December 5, 2016 @ 1:30 PM

  Well for $37500 i dont think you will get a qualified candidate like they are thinking of.
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  By sickofpayingforit, December 5, 2016 @ 3:30 PM

  Say what you want to about this group of supervisors, but they don’t raise taxes in Manor and continue to work towards improving services. Sure we can split hairs with this or that, as with any government office, and the bottom line is the budget is working, and they are expanding police coverage.

  Good stuff!
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  By jorn jensen, December 6, 2016 @ 7:09 AM

  Agree, sickofpayingforit. Manor Township repairs its equipment instead of constantly buying new, new, new. That was one of Pat Fabian’s bragging rights when he ran for commissioner. Manor Township does appear to be a well-run outfit.

  Come to West Franklin Township - $500k in the bank (some of this is natural gas money from the natural gas boom)and we can’t get roads repaired/paved/tarred & chipped, but we’re spending $200k plus to install a 100′ x 60′ farm-type plastic tent in the front yard of the municipal building lot. Purpose? To keep the anti-skid from lumping up and freezing into clumps that have to be broken up by the roadmaster. So, in front of the ugly blue cement block building, between it and Butler Road, will be a big ol’ tent soon. But we can’t get roads fixed.

  I think you’re right, sickofpayingforit, Manor Township is a well-run outfit.

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