Freeport Chief Jeff Swiklinski moving to Buffalo Township police force

One of the early advocates for Alle-Kiski Valley police surveillance cameras is moving from leading Freeport police to a neighboring force.

Jeff Swiklinski, 53, of Buffalo Township, who was chief of the Freeport Police Department for 19 of his 32-year career with the force, will become a Buffalo Township patrolman starting early next month.

Swiklinski said he doesn’t like talking about himself, but he has a glowing opinion of Freeport.

“I loved every minute that I spent in Freeport,” Swiklinski said. “It’s a great town with great people. I look forward to assisting the Freeport Police Department whenever called upon.”

He was part of the force when it received federal money sponsored by U.S. Rep. John Murtha to install surveillance cameras in public areas, said Mayor James E. Swartz Jr. By 2009, there were about 16 cameras in the system.

Swiklinski watched the cameras become an asset and an example for nearby departments.

“I believe that they are a valuable tool for the police department,” he said. “They have helped us many many times over the years to solve crimes. They have also been used to show that a crime wasn’t committed.”

Using the cameras, department made arrests of people breaking into cars and they showed a man pull a gun on two women along a downtown street.

It also led to arrest in an arson case.

“You hate to lose an employee like Jeff, but he will earn more money there than we can afford to give,” Swartz said.

Swartz and Freeport Council President and friend John Mazurowski said they like Swiklinski and how he ran the department.

“Jeff is very good at talking with people and getting people to call him to tell him what’s going on,” he said.

Mazurowski said Sgt. Eric Belton will be the officer in charge until a long-term decision is made.

Swartz said he is recommending that council make Belton the next chief.