Greencastle copes without police chief
By PAT FRIDGEN Echo Pilot

When Greencastle's three police cars are parked at borough hall and no patrolman is in the office, it is quite possible no officer is on duty, as was the case Friday morning. Borough authorities are in the process of hiring a police chief and more officers.

Greencastle has been without a chief of police for a week. Borough officials are intent on keeping things under control until a new one can be hired, which could take a couple of months.

Already interest in the position has surfaced. Ann Amsley, borough administrative assistant, said eight applications for chief had been picked up or mailed out by Monday afternoon.

Mayor Robert Eberly has taken on the administrative tasks of Peter Mozurkevich. The former police chief, who rented a house in the borough, turned in his resignation Sept. 4, after the borough council voted Sept. 3 to fire him. He was given one month's pay and health insurance.

The community has the same amount of police coverage as before, minus Mozurkevich's 40 hours on the street and ten hours in the office per week, according to Public Safety Committee Chairman Paul Schemel.

Mozurkevich

Eberly is trying to schedule any holes in a police presence during the times of lowest need. The force currently has two fulltime and three parttime officers.

"At our worst coverage, we have the same level of coverage as Antrim Township has all the time," noted Schemel.

The township does not have a police force and relies on Pennsylvania State Police to respond to calls. Schemel added that he did not like that level of presence but that PSP was available for service.

"I am in charge," said Eberly. "We're doing the best we can."

He is going through the files, which were in good shape he said, and reassigning cases. He is also trying to keep morale up during the transition.

The search is on

Borough manager Ken Myers is running the same ad he ran two years ago, when Mozurkevich was hired. He has placed ads for a chief in the Chambersburg Public Opinion, Waynesboro Record Herald, state municipal periodicals and the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association website.

Applicants must respond by Oct. 19. Borough qualifications are: seven years experience as an officer, supervisory experience and management training, residency within six months of appointment, interpersonal skills when dealing with the public, news media and police department, knowledge of law enforcement, a BS in police administration or related field or attendance at the FBI Academy, availability to perform duties, valid PAdriver's license and Act 120 certified. The position will pay up to $55,000 depending on experience.

Schemel wants the new chief to be a 'good fit' for Greencastle.

"He has to understand the community and become involved. Public relations is a large component of the job," he said.

He added that while he personally liked Mozurkevich, the chief had a blunt personality that rubbed some people the wrong way.

Eberly said there was no one particular thing that caused the council to call for his departure on a 6-0 vote. He believed each council member had a different reason to let him go.

Eberly thought Mozurkevich lacked leadership for the younger officers.

"He was not approachable for advice, which they needed. He wasn't able to build relationships with the officers."

There was some good

Schemel pointed out that Mozurkevich did have significant accomplishments during his two years in town.

"The traffic incident rate dropped precipitously, due to greater traffic enforcement," he said.

The visibility of officers in the downtown area also eliminated the presence of loiterers in Center Square. That was the subject of many complaints in the past.

"We don't want to give those good things up," Schemel continued. "Mozurkevich worked hard to eliminate those problems and we don't want them back. I don't want to see our police department go backwards. We're going to move forward."

He hopes Greencastle can take pride in its police department, and that the next chief can develop a strategic plan to address drug problems and work with the schools.

Eberly concurred that Mozurkevich's visibility was positive in enforcing traffic laws.

"He had a commanding presence, which is good for a police officer. He took his job seriously. He was a professional."

Eberly is optimistic that the police force will be rebuilt. Another parttime officer is starting within a week. He noted that the borough expects to hire more, and on Friday closed applications for the Civil Service Exam.

Amsley said five people signed up for the test, which was to be offered Sept. 12.