Pa. Police Department Rebuilds Force after Summer's Mass Resignations

After Kiski Township police Sgt. Thomas Dessell, four other officers and the police secretary quit in protest in early July, the township supervisors whose actions they objected to have scrambled to replace the officers.

The township is recovering from the mass resignation. The township supervisors have restored the positions with the addition of two new full-time officers and one part-timer, which the supervisors approved Wednesday night.

The department is at full staff now, including a new police secretary, Chief Lee Bartolicius said. Bartolicius has been on the job for about two months.

When Dessell and four other police officers quit — citing harassment and intimidation by some township supervisors — only Bartolicius and the school resource officer remained.

During Wednesday's township supervisors meeting, they promoted part-time police Officer Zachary Byers to full time and hired Kyle Lewis as a full-time officer.

Both will begin at a rate of $27 per hour.

Cody Dill and Colton Howard were hired as part-time officers at $22 per hour.

"I'm happy with Chief Bartolicius attracting quality candidates for officers," said Supervisor Chuck Rodnicki, a former township police sergeant. "He's done a fantastic job."

Rodnicki noted that some of the officers have six to 15 years of experience. The township increased the wages a little to "attract good candidates and keep good officers."

The market is very competitive for finding good officers, Rodnicki and Bartolicius said.

Bartolicius extended an offer to a new potential part-time officer, which has been approved by supervisors.

With or without that officer, he expects the department to provide 24-7 coverage starting Oct. 1.

Kiski Township was one of only four municipalities providing around-the-clock local police coverage in Armstrong County, according to the county's emergency services department.

With the department depleted after the July resignations, Kiski's contract with North Apollo was in jeopardy.

North Apollo officials were alarmed when only two police officers remained in the department. Although state police provided primary coverage at that time, it was not the level of local police protection North Apollo was paying for.

Borough council held Kiski Township in breach of contract in July with the option to break it or continue it.

North Apollo officials recently discussed continuing their three-year agreement with Kiski Township but have not yet made a decision.

"Kiski Township police are living up to their expectations," North Apollo Council president Ray Rusz said Friday.

"We're going to give them the benefit of the doubt and continue our contract until they get up to speed," he said. "It's the right thing to do. Bartolicius is doing what he can."

Although Rusz hasn't seen increased local police presence in the borough yet, he said, "Hopefully, soon they will be up to full staff."

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