Edgeworth Police Department is moving through the new year with a new officer and some new equipment.

Council voted Jan. 16 to hire Lucas Sickafuse of Ellwood City.

Mayor Gary Smith swore in the new officer at the meeting.

Sickafuse’s hiring brings the department to six full-time officers, including Chief John Burlett, and no part-timers.

Burlett also announced the acquisition of two new Vigilant mobile license plate readers from Motorola.

Sickafuse, 37, will join the borough force Feb. 1.

There is a one-year probationary period before he becomes an official employee.

Newly appointed council vice president Ivan Hofmann interviewed Sickafuse as part of the hiring process.

“I found him to be a very enthusiastic, energetic individual who is really excited to be a full-time patrolman for Edgeworth,” Hoffman said. “He’s currently a patrolman in another (community). He’s got a lot of experience. He’s going to be a real welcomed addition to the police force.”

Sickafuse had high scores on Civil Service exams and comes with about 10 years of law enforcement experience, the most recent of which was with the Jackson Township Police Department in Butler County. Sickafuse also served with the Northern Regional Police Department.

“All the feedback that we got from him was he is so police-community oriented,” Burlett said. “All throughout his interview and his background check was that this man loves talking to people. He loves being part of the community even though he doesn’t live there.”

Sickafuse is also the tallest officer in recent Edgeworth history, standing at an athletic 6 feet 7 inches tall.

“If we started a basketball team we’d know who would be underneath the basket,” the chief said.

Sickafuse’s starting salary is about $72,000.

Edgeworth transitioned to an all-full-time police department largely due to sketchy part-time availability.

“They (either) have full-time jobs or they have three other part-time jobs,” the chief said. “We’ve not even budgeted for a part-time (officer).”

New equipment

Burlett said a borough resident made a large donation to the department to purchase two license plate readers, which cost about $16,000 each.

The equipment will make it easier for officers to identify stolen, expired or suspended license plates and automatically populate information into police computers.

The department is working with the company to finalize the installation. The hope is to have them in operation in March.

The donor wished to remain anonymous.

“We were able to put this money to good use,” Burlett said. “It just shows that there is a lot of support for policemen in general in this area, not just particularly Edgworth.

“I believe the residents of the Quaker Valley area appreciate the police departments and support the police departments very much.”

Reorganization

Mayor Smith also swore in council members Elizabeth Genter, Gregory Marlovits and Rebecca Cartus to their new four-year seats on Jan. 16.

Joseph Hoepp was reappointed council president and Hofmann was appointed vice president.

John Schwend remains borough manager. Hugh St. Martin is the real estate tax collector.

Council meetings remain on the third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the borough building, 301 Beaver Road.

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