Three Canonsburg police officers achieve rank of sergeant
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Canonsburg Mayor Dave Rhome leads police officer Anthony Cancilla in the law enforcement oath of office Monday evening inside the council chamber. Cancilla was promoted to the rank of sergeant alongside his colleagues Dennis Cole and Jonathon Cornell.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Canonsburg police officers Dennis Cole, Anthony Cancilla and Jonathon Cornell smile proudly after being promoted to the rank of sergeant during a special ceremony Monday evening. The three sergeants had their badges pinned and were sworn in before the borough council, their families and a large crowd.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Newly-promoted sergeants Jonathon Cornell, Anthony Cancilla and Dennis Cole and their families – Cornell’s wife Jenna and son Jack; Cancilla’s wife Emily; and Cole’s wife Rachel, son Dash and mother Missy – are all smiles as Chief Al Coghill offers words of congratulations following a badge pinning inside Canonsburg chamber council.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Three new sergeants – the first three promoted in 19 years – celebrate their new rank after a badge pinning and oath taking ceremony Monday evening. From left: Canonsburg Mayor Dave Rhome; police Chief Al Coghill; Sergeant Dennis Cole; Sergeant Anthony Cancilla; Sergeant Jonathon Cornell; and Deputy Chief Don Cross.
It was standing room only inside Canonsburg chamber council Monday evening, where folks gathered to witness the promotion of three borough police officers.
The officers are the first in 19 years to reach the rank of sergeant.
The promotion of officers Anthony Cancilla, Dennis Cole and Jonathon Cornell to sergeant is part of the police department’s restructuring plan. Sergeant James Spingola retired at the end of 2021, after 49 years, and another sergeant is slated to retire this year.
Police Chief Al Coghill said now is the perfect time to promote from within.
“It was a good opportunity to start fresh,” Coghill said. “We wanted to get a lengthy rank structure in place to set up the future of the department.”
The newly-promoted officers spent three months studying for the oral exam and scenario-based exam.
“All three excelled in the testing process, and you’re looking at the three highest scores,” Coghill said Monday evening.
Surrounded by family, Cancilla, Cole and Cornell celebrated their promotions with a badge pinning before taking the oath of office. Following the ceremony, the new sergeants stepped outside to celebrate with extended family, colleagues and Mayor Dave Rhome.
“It’s an honor to raise up in the ranks,” said Rhome. “We want to honor that tradition.”