Apollo’s newest full-time police officer is a familiar face

An Apollo resident with an extensive resume in law enforcement and even more experience in public service is the borough’s newest full-time police officer.

Council agreed Thursday night to hire Ron Baustert.

Baustert, 57, will begin his duties in about two weeks. He is scheduled to give his retirement notice to Armstrong County 911, where he has served as coordinator for 27 years.

Salary and terms still are being negotiated between council and its police union.

David Romagnoli will remain the officer-in-charge. Former police Chief Jared Kier left the borough several months ago.

Baustert will join the force as a patrolman.

A part-time officer for Apollo during two stints, Baustert will follow in the footsteps of his father, John, as a full-time Apollo officer. He graduated from the police academy in 2002.

He was a part-time police officer in Leechburg for 18 years and with Gilpin for nine years. Baustert plans to remain a part-time officer in Manor Township.

In addition, Baustert has been a volunteer firefighter with Apollo Fire Company No. 2 since 1976.

Council agreed to let Regina Schrecengost, a state corrections officer, do a ride-along with Baustert in the near future.

Trainees for 911 and ambulance crew members have done ride-alongs with Apollo officers in the past.

“I think it’s a valuable cause,” Baustert said. “It lets the public see what we do.”

Apollo police will be getting two new radios in the near future. Starting in mid-January, their old radios, which are compatible with the Windows 7 computer system, will need to hook into Windows 10.

The new radios are $3,300 each.