Indiana Township appoints new police chief, announces new 4-year police contract

This month marks the end of an era in Indiana Township law enforcement and the start of a new one.

Police Chief Steven Colucci is retiring after 29 years in the township force.

Supervisors on Aug. 13 unanimously passed a resolution honoring Colucci for his service. Colucci is also expected to get a plaque.

Sgt. Marc Myers was also unanimously approved by township commissioners as Colucci’s successor. He’s been with the department for 26 years.

Hired in 1996 as a part-time patrolman, Colucci was promoted to full-time in 2000, detective in 2002, sergeant in 2018, lieutenant in 2021 and served as chief for a little more than three years. His last official day is Aug. 24.

Colucci took over for Chief Timothy Michaels, who died in May 2022 at age 57.

Colucci was not at the meeting. His father, Ireno Colucci, 90, of Hampton, died at his home with family by his side on Aug. 10.

Visitation took place Aug. 13 at the Neely Funeral Home in Glenshaw.

Mayor Darrin Krally had a moment of silence for Ireno Colucci prior to addressing police action items. He talked about the departing chief after the meeting.

“Steve’s service was exemplary,” Krally said. “Been around for a very long time. Almost three decades. Just a fantastic police officer, sergeant, lieutenant, chief. Just a consummate professional.

”Was able to train many of the officers that you see in the room tonight. Certainly, he will be missed and we wish him the best in retirement.”

The township could have launched a lengthy nationwide search to find its next top cop.

But Township Manager Dan Anderson said that wasn’t necessary.

“We are fortunate to have well-qualified individuals willing and able to serve as our next chief of police within our own department,” Anderson said. “One such individual is our own Sgt. Marc Myers. … I’m confident Sgt. Myers’ experience and abilities will be an asset to the township police department, which has a well-earned reputation for excellence.”

New chief

Myers, a Plum native and 1991 Plum High School graduate, said he was inspired to be an officer by his father, former Plum Police Sgt. Ronald Myers, who retired from the borough force in 2001 after more than 30 years in law enforcement.

The elder Myers helped the Plum School District start its police force, for which his son also worked.

Marc Myers said his father imbued in him the mantra of professionalism, appearance, taking pride in your job and working hard.

His favorite part about policing is the contact with the public.

“I’ve always been a crime prevention officer,” Myers said. “I’ve done a lot of community-oriented service stuff.”

He started his law enforcement career in December 1998 in Verona and served there for about a year before being hired by Indiana Township.

He was promoted to full-time in 2007 and made sergeant in 2022.

Myers is an ALICE instructor and served as the department’s firearms instructor for years. ALICE stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate. It is a proactive, options-based response strategy for active shooters or other violent critical incidents.

Several officers from Fox Chapel were in attendance to celebrate Myers’ promotion.

The new chief said he has been to a variety of Fox Chapel Borough events and is very familiar with their police. He thanked them for coming out.

Myers, during his remarks, thanked former township chiefs for their support, including Chief Bob Wilson, who hired him, and Chief Michaels, with whom he spent many a late shift learning the ropes, he said.

“It’s very humbling to me,” said Myers, who also shared moments with his wife and children following the appointment.

He hopes to continue to grow the police department and add more community events in the coming years. He takes over as chief on Aug. 25.

“Marc is a seasoned, talented professional,” Krally said. “More than capable of stepping into the big shoes that he has to fill. I think the township is lucky to have him. This will be a great opportunity for him to increase his own career as a police officer. As residents, we’re very lucky to have him.”

Colucci’s salary was about $126,000. That is Myers’ starting salary.

New police contract

Myers takes over a department that will soon be under a new collective bargaining agreement.

Supervisors unanimously approved a new four-year deal that runs from Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2029.

Contract terms include:

• a 3% wage increase per year;

• an increase in longevity incentives of $100 a year for every year of completed service, capping at $2,500;

• an increase in uniform allowance to $975 a year

• increases in education incentives, from $250 for an associate’s degree to $500; and from $400 for a bachelor’s degree to $800.

This impacts all 12 full-time officers in the department. It does not impact the one part-timer or the chief.

“Having a contract in place with the police is paramount,” Krally said. “They are a pillar of the community. They should be in any community. They are in ours, and we wanted to ensure that we were doing the right thing, getting that contract done certainly ahead of any (police chief) transition.

“I think it’s equitable. It’s very fair in terms of what they have now and what they will get in the future.”

Negotiations took place over the past few months.

Myers was on the department’s negotiating team along with officers Bobby Thompson and Joe Vojtko.

He said the township’s team was very easy to work with and both sides came up with a very good deal.

“It was a very seamless process,” Myers said. “It makes everyone feel secure. They know that they have job security. The next four years: there are no unknowns.”