Greensburg City Council tapped a 14-year veteran to serve as the police department’s new chief.

Shawn Denning was promoted to the position after this week’s meeting. Denning, who takes over his new role immediately, succeeds Robert Stafford, who retired in January.

“I have the utmost respect for the title of chief of police,” Denning said. “I have great expectations of myself, and I want to push the police department even further into the future. … I want to make it a great work environment, and I want to continue to strive to make Greensburg police great and strengthen the bonds with the community.”

Denning previously served four years in the Marines, where he completed one combat tour in Iraq.

After that, he attended the police academy, then worked as a full-time officer for the New York Police Department and for Manor Borough.

He joined Greensburg’s department in 2008 and quickly climbed the ranks. By 2017, Denning was promoted to sergeant. A year later, he became lieutenant, and by 2020, he was promoted to captain. After Stafford’s retirement, Denning filled in as interim police chief. The city is now working to fill the captain position.

According to city Administrator Kelsye Hantz, four people were interviewed for police chief.

Mayor Robert Bell noted that members of the hiring committee unanimously decided to move forward with Denning.

“I’m very excited to have him,” Bell said. “If you look at his record, he’s moved up the ranks pretty quickly. … He’s very highly respected, not only in city hall but throughout the policing community.”

Bell noted that Denning has the backing of several officers within the department, calling him a “no-nonsense, commonsense guy.”

Denning’s new salary will be more than $119,000.

Looking forward, Denning plans to keep up with “the changing times with policing. I hope one day to start turning the fleet vehicles into electric vehicles. I’ve already proceeded with looking into possibly purchasing a Tesla in the future — maybe next year, hopefully. We’re changing to 9mm (guns), which is the trend in policing.”

In addition, he plans to attend leadership training to stay on top of any changes within the field.

“I’ve only been here for 14 years, so I’ve got quite a ways to go. So I’m just going to evolve and not forget where I came from,” Denning said. “I think that the best way to do that is to keep in good contact and good relationships with your employees. It’s a great police department and a great city, so I’m just excited.”

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