Uniontown holds agility tests
Beleaguered by injuries, Uniontown police moved one step closer to getting some help combating crime in the city after nine candidates participated recently in agility tests for new officers. “It is my hope to hire two new officers by the end of this year,” police Chief Jason A. Cox said following the tests.
The tests included running 1.5 miles in less than 15 minutes, bench-pressing a percentage of a candidate’s overall body weight, performing more than 30 sit-ups in 60 seconds, running a 40-yard-dash and other strength and agility measurements.
In July, Uniontown City Council, recognizing the need for additional officers, authorized the Uniontown Police Civil Service Commission to begin the testing process for the position of police officer in the city.
The move, which was approved by unanimous vote, marked a significant step toward hiring additional officers to the city police force, which currently operates with 13 full-time officers.
Despite the scaled-down force, which operated with as many as 18 officers less than two years ago, the department has continued to handle a large volume of calls under Cox.
In 2009, Uniontown police have fielded more than 9,400 calls to date while also working to overcome multiple injuries to several officers.
The increased workload coupled with the loss of four officers to injury forced the city to hire two temporary officers to help fill the void on the force.
“Right now, we have four officers that are not working for duty-related and non-duty-related injuries and one officer that will be leaving the department for a new position,” Cox said, noting that some of the injuries are severe, leaving questions about the ability of the injured officers to return to the department.
Lt. Michael M. Metros, a 33-year veteran of the police force, will retire from the department in January to begin his term as the magisterial district judge in Uniontown after winning both the Democrat and Republican primaries for the post earlier this year.
Cox said that the department has applied for and received state grant money for an additional officer, but added that the funding is unavailable until the passage of the state budget.
He also noted that the department has worked in conjunction with Uniontown Area School District to obtain funding to hire a school resource officer that would act as a liaison between the city police and school police.
“My goal, with additional officers, is not only to alleviate individual officer responsibility, but to develop a more proactive police department where we can implement a greater officer presence,” Cox said.
Seven of the nine participants in the agility test passed, Cox said.
He added that the two candidates who were unable to pass the physical testing late last month will retest this month.