Greensburg police chief announces retirement

Greensburg police Chief Chad Zucco will resign at the end of March after 22 years on the force.

“It was a very hard decision,” Zucco said. “This is all I’ve known since I was 21 years old, being a police officer.”

He’s accepted a job as chief operating officer of Gaskey and Associates, a Monroeville-based financial services firm.

He will continue to participate in a national Officer Safety and Wellness initiative he’s been part of since 2017, training officers in other departments.

Zucco grew up in Greensburg and joined the city police department as a part-time dispatcher in 1994. He held the job four years, while also attending the police academy and working as a part-time officer for South Greensburg Borough.

In 1998, Greensburg hired him as a patrolman. He rose through the ranks over the next two decades, becoming chief in 2016 after the city fired former chief Walter J. “Wally” Lyons.

“I can’t stress enough how honored I’ve been to have this position,” he said.

However, the job has had its downside, he said. He’s missed time with family because of the demanding hours, and dealt with the mental health cost inherent with police work.

“This job really takes a toll on you,” he said. “You can only see so much stuff.”

He’s eligible to retire with a full pension from Greensburg.

“That was always my goal, after 20 years to retire and do something else, and to catch up on what I missed,” he said.

Mayor Robert Bell praised Zucco’s dedication to the job.

“He’s going to be a tough one to replace, because he’s taken the police department to a whole new level of efficiency,” Bell said.

Bell said the city plans to promote a new chief from within the department. It will open the application process to officers with supervisory experience in early March, with hopes of naming a new chief at April’s council meeting.

“I’m sure we’ll find a good chief out of the group, I just don’t know who it’s going to be yet,” Bell said.

Zucco said one of his goals as chief was to improve the relationship between the police department and the community. During his tenure, department involvement in community events has increased dramatically, with officers speaking to schools and local organizations, participating in mentorship programs and other activities, he said.

He’s confident whichever officer is promoted to chief will be able to carry on this goal.

“I think the police department is in good hands,” he said. “It’s been a ride for sure.”

Bell said Zucco will be missed.

“Not only is he our chief, but over the years he and I have become really good friends, and it’s tough to see a friend go,” he said.