As Latrobe hires patrolman, council eyes early retirement incentive for senior officers

Latrobe has expanded its police force to 16 officers with the hiring of Patrolman Andrew Ong.

The 11-year veteran of law enforcement was recognized for a lifesaving rescue during his previous stint with the Blairsville Police Department.

Ong, who was sworn in at Latrobe council’s Monday meeting, is credited with saving a 7-year-old boy who was trapped with his father in the flooded Conemaugh River near Blairsville’s Riverfront Trail.

Ong responded on the May 2022 rescue effort along with the Blairsville Fire Department’s water rescue team. His department awarded him a Medal of Valor for entering the river’s 53-degree water and carrying the boy to the shore. The boy recovered after being treated at UPMC Children’s Hospital for signs of hypothermia.

Latrobe police Chief Richard Bosco noted Ong was ranked third among police applicants in Latrobe’s most recent civil service testing, which resulted in the hiring of officers David Antal and Brady Sherback in April. Antal had served with the Southern Armstrong Regional Police Department while Sherback previously worked with local police in Scottdale.

“He just fell right in line with the civil service hiring standard,” Bosco said of Ong.

Ong, who lives in Derry Township, is a 2009 Greater Latrobe Senior High graduate.

With the move to a larger department, Ong said, “It’s a little bit of a culture shock, but I’m excited to get out and do what I can to help.”

Retirement incentive eyed

City council is also considering an early retirement incentive for its police officers, with plans to take an initial step — advertising a related pension ordinance amendment — at its Nov. 12 meeting.

The incentive would provide a retirement option for officers who are at least 45 and have completed at least 20 years of service.

If the ordinance is approved, five Latrobe officers would be eligible for the incentive, Bosco said.

“This gives them that golden opportunity to enhance their career and their income potential,” he said. “This gives them the ability to serve out a very full career with the city of Latrobe, retire at 45 and pick up a second job.

“It gives them freedom over their invested monies and what they want to do with them upon that age of 45.”

The proposed retirement incentive also could provide a financial break for the city.

Latrobe has the potential to trim about $40,000 from its police budget for each veteran officer who retires and is replaced by a new hire, according to Bosco.

“When those officers retire, our newest officers are not only making less money, but they fall under a completely different longevity platform,” he said.

The starting salary for a patrolman is $55,150, as set in the city’s police contract.

Bosco explained senior officers are earning an additional 1% above their base pay for each year of service. “We have officers who are making 20% over their base salary because of longevity,” he said.

The city’s police pension fund is more than fully funded and would still be close to fully funded if the retirement incentive is approved, Bosco said.