By Karen Zapf

Published: Monday, January 28, 2013, 5:40 p.m.
Updated: Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Plum police Chief Frank Monaco has returned to work.

Monaco, who had been on sick leave since early December, said he was hospitalized due to complications from surgery.

“I got my emails from home and was doing some things from home,” Monaco, chief for nearly six years, said Monday, his first day back on the job.

The chief's doctor last Friday released him to return to work, he said.

In Monaco's absence, Lt. Jeffrey Armstrong, second-in-command, directed the daily operation of the 25-man department.

“He (Armstrong) ran the show,” Monaco said. “He did a yeoman's job. He knows how to do everything, and I am confident in his abilities. I'm blessed to have him as my second-in-command.”

Monaco pointed out that Armstrong handled the duties of acting chief for nearly a year when former Chief Robert Payne in 2006 left the post for a job in the private sector. Payne became police chief in Edgewood in 2008.

Mayor Richard Hrivnak said he is pleased at Monaco's return as well as Armstrong's performance over the past month and a half.

“I am extremely happy the chief is feeling better and is back to work,” Hrivnak said.

“Jeff Armstrong did a phenomenal job in the chief's absence. We are blessed to have him.”

Karen Zapf is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-856-7400, ext. 8753, or kzapf@tribweb.com.

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