By Mitch Fryer

Published: Monday, January 14, 2013, 8:36 p.m.
Updated: Monday, January 14, 2013

The top post in Armstrong County law enforcement must be filled in November, and Democratic candidate Frank Pitzer says law enforcement cooperation is at the top of his list to improve the Sheriff's Office.

A the courthouse on Monday, Pitzer, 47, of Bethel, a county deputy sheriff for eight years and Armstrong County Narcotics Enforcement Team (ARMNET) detective for 10 years, announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for sheriff in the spring primary.

Pitzer is the area coordinator for ARMNET, which has been responsible for multiple drug-related investigations and arrests in the county.

Longtime Sheriff Larry Crawford has said he will retire at the end of the year.

Pitzer said he intends to improve the county's working relationships with federal, state and local law agencies.

“It's the day-to-day working with these guys that matters,” Pitzer said. “I want to keep in contact and exchange and share information — improve even more on what we are doing now.”

“As a small community we need to access all the resources we can from these organizations to assist us in making our community safer,” he added.

Pitzer said the department can use more and better equipment.

“We're going to be trying to get some equipment through grants to help us out with security,” he said. “I want to be out in front of that effort.”

Pitzer also wants to implement anti-drug programs in the schools.

“I truly believe we need to educate our children in the schools early on about the effects and outcomes of drug abuse,” Pitzer said. “I have developed several programs that we can implement at our schools with absolutely no cost to the taxpayers.”

Pitzer will continue to make applications for firearm permits easily accessible for qualified residents.

If elected, Pitzer said he will continue to operate the Sheriff's Department in the same manner as Crawford.

“We will keep it going as it is and make changes as we go,” Pitzer said. “I feel if it's not broken we're not going to fix it. Everything day-to-day seems to be going pretty good.”

The candidate's website is www.pitzerforsheriff.com. No other candidates for sheriff have announced

Mitch Fryer is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-543-1303 or mfryer@tribweb.com.

1. Ford Cliff firefighters head to Oklahoma
2. Belmont pool ready to splash June 1
3. Rupert wins Democratic nod to run for Armstrong sheriff
4. Stark divide for coroner
5. Smeltzer loses seat on Armstrong School District board
6. Armstrong to seek housing funds for ADA improvements
7. Community day to help Freeport boy fighting cancer
8. Budget issues top borough candidates’ concerns
9. Voters have plethora of hopefuls to pick from
10. Plenty to choose from in Kittanning mayor’s race
11. 25 percent of Amrstrong voters go to polls

There are currently no comments for this story.
Subscribe today! Click here for our subscription offers.