Martinsburg May Soon Hire Full-Time Police Officer

The time may be near for Martinsburg Borough Council to hire the police department’s third full-time officer.

During council’s April meeting, Chief of Police Kerry L. Hoover said Attorney Matthew P. Gieg of Gieg Law Offices, Altoona, – the borough’s solicitor – verified with Attorney Brendan J. Moran of the Beard Legal Group, Altoona, that Martinsburg doesn’t need the Police Civil Service Commission in order to hire a third full-time officer. Once a third full-time officer is hired, Chief Hoover said council will then need to assemble the commission.

Since learning that the commission doesn’t need to be set up before a third full-time officer can be hired, Chief Hoover told council that the police department has a couple of candidates who are interested in the position.

The chief said he may bring a recommendation of another full-time officer to council at the Monday, May 6, meeting.

The council has budgeted a starting salary for a third full-time officer at $17 per hour for the first six months, with an increase in pay following that period.

Commission’s Duties

Attorney Gieg said that once a third full-time officer is approved, the Police Civil Service Commission should be set up within several months after the hiring.

The commission – with a minimum of three members and no more than six who are appointed by the borough council – will oversee written and physical agility tests and interviews of applicants for the position of future full-time officers. The commission would then give its recommendations to council. The chief of police will also do a background check on the person that the commission will propose to council. Council will make the final vote when it comes to the hiring of an officer.

The commission will not have regular meetings, but rather will meet as needed. The chief of police said the commission will have its own solicitor separate from council.

Council has invited anyone interested in serving on the Police Civil Service Commission to the May 6 meeting, which will begin at 7 p.m.

W. Penn St. Property

Attorney Gieg said everything is prepared for the sale of the 114 W. Penn St. property to Dr. Jonathan and Megan Zimmerman, owners of Zimmerman Family Dentistry, Martinsburg. He said the close of the sale is 90 days since Feb. 5.

The property is the site of the former building that housed the Hershberger Chevrolet-Oldsmobile Inc. and Martinsburg Auto & RV Expo. The building sat empty for years before it was torn down last year.

In other business, council voted to take $3,600 from the equipment fund to update computers in the borough office and the police department.