Sewickley celebrates longtime police officer's service, retirement

Sewickley and state officials saluted one of the borough’s finest as he recently traded in his badge and gun for shorts and household chores.

Former Sgt. Bob McNatt was honored for his 33 years of service on the police force.

Mayor George Shannon presented him with a plaque and Lori Mizgorski, district director for state Rep. Valerie Gaydos, R-Allegheny, presented him with a citation on July 8.

McNatt, a Sewickley native and current Baden resident, formally retired on April 30.

He had been with the department since December 1992, working his way up from part-time patrolman to full-time officer in May 1994. McNatt served as a sergeant for at least 15 years.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to work here,” McNatt said. “This is the best place to work. When I helped somebody, that’s what made me feel the best, whether that was giving them directions or arresting them to get them turned around.

“If a person needs help, they need to ask. We were a small enough department where we could follow up on stuff. I could take the time to talk to the people and check up on them.”

The 1980 Quaker Valley graduate found the informal interactions walking or driving along the beat rewarding as well.

“If I see (people) on the street, I’d pull up and they get nervous,” said McNatt, 63. “I’d say, ‘What’s up, man? How’s it going? How’s your kid? How’s your wife? How’s your job?’

“That’s why I stayed in Sewickley. It was personal. … When I arrested somebody, it wasn’t personal. It was the law.”

Running the numbers

Shannon delivered high praise and ran some numbers on McNatt’s career. The mayor said an officer typically works 250 shifts a year with five to six public interactions per shift.

That equates to McNatt having worked about 8,250 shifts and having 41,250 interactions.

“When anybody retires, you question, ‘Have I done enough?’” Shannon said. “You question, ‘Did I make a difference in what I did?’ You spent 33 years doing something, and I’m here to tell you: you did it well.”

McNatt was instrumental in the department’s car seat checks with assistance from the American Academy of Pediatrics and Cochran Hose Company. There would be about two to three events per year designed to ensure families had properly installed seats for their children.

Traffic details netted some funny stories, including one of a driver who did not immediately recognize McNatt and attempted to get out of a ticket by presenting him with McNatt’s own business card.

“I never pulled anybody over to tell them how good they were driving,” McNatt said.

McNatt was a familiar face at monthly council meetings, often serving as a department liaison and general peacekeeper.

“Bob has been such a professional and calming presence in our community,” Council President Cynthia Mullins said. “Council so appreciates his service to Sewickley, and we wish him and his lovely family lots of happiness in retirement.”

McNatt’s departure created an opportunity for Celina Kelly of New Brighton, who was sworn in as the department’s first full-time female officer in June. Kelly was hired part-time by Sewickley last November.

Steven Berg of Cranberry was also sworn in as a full-time officer in June.

The police department has about 12 full-time officers and six part-timers.

Police Chief Dave Mazza said after the meeting that departures impact his force greatly.

“We are a tight group. And when one career ends, it creates an opportunity for another career to begin,” Mazza said. “That passing of the torch becomes part of that officer’s legacy. But to me, Bob’s legacy is much more than that.

”It is as rare as it is special to have served a 33-year career as a first responder serving the community you grew up in, like Bob did. It was an honor to work with him for almost 25 years. I wish him all the best. He has earned it.”

McNatt worked in the fast food, security and gas station industries prior to becoming an officer. He also served as a Sewickley emergency dispatcher.

He plans to sleep in, work around the house and do some traveling with the family during retirement.

McNatt was joined by his wife, Christine, and several other family members for the recognition at this month’s council meeting. They planned to celebrate the evening at the former China Palace, now called Yamayoshi.