California Borough names new police chief
CALIFORNIA – A California Borough police officer was promoted Thursday to chief of the department.
Mayor Frank Stetar swore in Timothy Sheehan at the start of a borough council meeting.
“I have some big shoes to fill,” Sheehan said, referring to retiring police Chief Rick Encapera.
Encapera’s last day of service was Friday after having worked for the borough police department for more than four decades.
Sheehan was the only member of the borough’s police force who applied for the chief position, Stetar said.
Three other officers from outside of California also applied for the job.
“We felt it necessary to have someone who is familiar with the community,” Stetar said.
“We’re happy. He’s doing a good job.”
Sheehan will lead a department with seven full-time officers.
He has been a police officer for 26 years, the last 10 of which were in California. Prior to that he was a police officer in Masontown, Fayette County.