Apollo police chief's move to Washington Township benefits Kiski Area schools

Apollo’s loss could be the Kiski Area School District’s gain.

Apollo police Chief Jarred Kier submitted his resignation this month to take a full-time patrolman’s job in Washington Township. His resignation is effective Aug. 15.

Kier will become the ninth full-time officer for Washington Township.

He will be paid about $25 an hour plus benefits. Before working in Apollo, Kier had been a part-time officer in Washington Township.

Adding Kier will allow Washington Township Patrolman Kenneth Hollis to become Kiski Area’s second school resource officer, township Supervisor Rich Hill said Tuesday.

Allegheny Township police Officer Charity Butz remains a resource officer for the school district.

Butz will routinely staff the high school and intermediate schools in Allegheny Township and North Primary in Vandergrift, Kiski Area school safety director J.C. Tedorski said.

Hollis will work at the Upper Elementary School along Route 66, South Primary at Mamont Drive in Washington Township and East Primary in Vandergrift.

Both police officers have completed the National Association of School Resources training, Tedorski said.

“They will work together when warranted so we have consistent programming,” Tedorski said.

School resource officers are preventive in purpose, Tedorski said.

When students are identified who need assistance and guidance, SROs connect to create a relationship between police and students, Tedorski said.

The Kiski Area School District has about 3,800 students from four townships and five boroughs in Westmoreland and Armstrong counties. The district has six schools and about 260 staff.

Kier was sergeant and more recently chief of the part-time Apollo police department for about seven years.

“He was a great asset for the borough,” Apollo Mayor Cindee Virostek said Tuesday.

Virostek said the council has voted to advertise for a full-time officer, a part-time officer, and a code enforcement officer.

Two part-time police officers now work in Apollo. State police cover at other times.