Former Brownsville officer joins Connellsville force
CONNELLSVILLE – The reputation of the local police department led a former Brownsville officer to apply for a position with the law enforcement agency. Patrolman Autumn Fike, hired by council last month to fill a vacancy within the department, said that she is pleased to be a member of a department that is held in high regard throughout the area.
“Connellsville is noted to be the best local police department in the county,” said Fike. “It is well known for its professionalism and leadership; there is a high morale level among the officers and they respect one another and work well together.”
An eight-year police veteran, Fike resigned from the Brownsville Police Department to take the local position.
She is also a member of the Fayette County Drug Task Force.
Fike is the first woman to serve in a full-time position on the force, according to city police Chief Stephen Cooper.
“It’s always been my nature to obtain goals that are difficult. I figured it would be a challenge for me,” said Fike of her entrance into the field of criminal justice.
Initially, she admitted, it was difficult to garner the trust of her fellow male officers, but eventually she found that her gender was no longer a factor.
“At first I wasn’t accepted,” she said. “I suppose there were some that didn’t think that being a female I could hold my own.”
There is no question of her ability to perform her police duties, according to Cooper.
“The mayor and council made a very good choice,” he said. “She comes with well-rounded experience that will help her work here.”
Of the 15 candidates that applied for the position, the civil service commission conducted 11 interviews, with Fike scoring the highest on the civil service test, agility test and interview, said Cooper.
Since being promoted to chief, Cooper said six officers have been hired with only one choosing to leave the department for a position with the state police.
“These are five very good officers and I hope that they stay here,” he said.
The addition of Fike was facilitated with the city’s acquisition of a $125,000 U.S. Department of Justice, Officer of Community Oriented Policing Services in Schools (COPS) three-year grant that places an experienced officer in local schools and allows the municipality to hire an entry-level patrolman at little or no cost to the city.
Cpl. Ken Jaynes was assigned as a school resource officer.
Fike, meanwhile, said that she is becoming acclimated to the city streets and is learning the department’s reporting system.
“I’m glad to be here,” she said.