MAHANOY CITY - The borough council voted Tuesday to advertise for a new police chief due to the planned retirement of Chief Mark J. Wiekrykas.
Wiekrykas, 51, who has been on the borough police force for 25 years, plans to officially retire at the end of the year. Until that time, he will use vacation and unused time owed to him while remaining as chief.
Wiekrykas has been police chief for 15 years, having been hired for the position in 1999. When asked about his experiences as a chief, Wiekrykas said that working in a small town has some unique aspects.
"Policing in a small town is a phenomenal experience because you're exposed to everything that happens in the course of your work shift," he said after the meeting. "In a larger department, a patrol officer goes to call, waits until a detective shows up, leaves and sometimes may never know what happens to a case. No matter how much cooperation there is, there's always some division of labor between patrols and investigations and other units in the larger department."
Wiekrykas said police officers in smaller towns can see cases from beginning to end.
"Here, you can have a barking dog to someone with a weapon," Wiekrykas said. "If you're on duty, you're the officer that's going to handle that call. The range of experience is phenomenal."
Wiekryas said that the police department has excellent officers, which helps make the job easier.
"The job is easier with a really phenomenal bunch of officers to work with who are aggressive and want to go out and do their jobs on a daily basis," Wiekrykas said.
The police department has four full-time officers, which include the chief, and about eight part-time officers.
Even though he will be retired, Wiekrykas plans to keep active.
"I've been a part-time criminal justice instructor at McCann in Hazleton for about eight years. I plan to keep doing that and do a little bit more if they'll allow me to do more," he said. "I still maintain all of my active EMS and instructor certifications. I've been a volunteer with the Shenandoah ambulance since I was in high school and I plan to become a little more active like I used to be and do some teaching in that arena as well. I also have my sideline as a church organist (at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Roman Catholic Church, Mahanoy City). Whatever else life throws at me, we'll see what happens."
Wiekrykas will continue to live in Mahanoy City.
"I'm here for the duration, I guess," he said.
Council President Patti A. Schnitzius praised Wiekrykas as chief after the meeting.
"It's been a pleasure to work with Mark as chief of police. We'll certainly miss him here in the borough," Schnitzius said. "We worked hand-in-hand for the 14 years I've been on council. He's always been very kind and cooperative as a working partner with the borough."
Mayor Nancy A. Petritsch said the position will be open to candidates internally and externally.
"Everybody will be able to apply," Petritsch said.