Greensburg police Det. John Swank dead at 51

Detective Sgt. John F. Swank Jr. often dealt with grim circumstances during his 19 years with the Greensburg Police Department.

Yet, the 51-year-old Greensburg man, who died Saturday in the emergency room of Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital, will be remembered for his upbeat personality.

“As good of a cop as he was, he was even a better person,” Greensburg Mayor Robert Bell said. “He was a really good friend to everybody — the whole police family and everybody at city hall — and he had a wonderful sense of humor.

Born June 13, 1969, in Mt. Pleasant, he was a son of John F. Sr. and Susan Swank of Greensburg. He died after experiencing a cardiac event early Saturday morning, according to his family.

He had been battling the rare disease amyloidosis, which affected his heart, according to his sister, Kathi Balest, who noted he was one year away from retirement.

In addition to his service with the police force, he was a professor of criminal justice at Pennsylvania State University’s Fayette-Eberly campus for 10 years. He also taught for 11 years at Westmoreland County Community College, where he was recognized in 2017 with the Distinguished Alumni Award.

He held a master’s degree in law and public policy from California University of Pennsylvania and a doctorate in criminal justice from Nova Southeastern University.

“He loved teaching,” his sister said. “His goal after retirement was to pursue a full-time teaching position.”

After initially working in law enforcement in Venango County, Swank advanced in the Greensburg department, from patrolman to sergeant, and then detective sergeant.

Playing an instrumental role in narcotics cases with the department’s Street Crimes Task Force, he later focused on investigations involving child abuse and sexual assault.

“He was very passionate about trying to help out kids who were in bad situations,” Bell said. “He was a cop’s cop. He was very serious about what he was doing and also very compassionate — with the victims, and even with the people who were being accused.

“He was well-respected by everybody in emergency management. You could ask him for help, and he would be the first in line. He will be missed by the Greensburg community.”

Away from work, Mr. Swank loved to have fun and express his creative side.

According to his sister, he was a competitive break dancer as a teenager. He later enjoyed playing guitar with his daughter and wrote some original songs.

“He would occasionally incorporate humor into his music, when he wanted to get a laugh on a tough day,” Balest said. “He would teach my daughters alternative words to Eagles songs.”

In addition to music by the Eagles, he was a fan of Walt Disney World, taking his family on frequent trips to the Florida resort in a camper. He often invited fellow members of the police force and their families to join him.

The Greensburg department’s chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police posted on social media that members will be wearing black mourning bands across their badges for several days to honor Swank.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Swank is survived by his wife of 26 years, TaMara; his daughter, DeLaney Swank, of Greensburg; his sister, Kathi Balest, and her husband, Paul, of Greensburg; and two nieces.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Leo M. Bacha Funeral Home, 516 Stanton St., Greensburg — with health guidelines in place, including social distancing and wearing of masks. A funeral Mass and interment will be private. The City of Greensburg Police Department and FOP General Green Lodge No. 56 will conduct a memorial service at 6 p.m. Monday in the funeral home.

Swank’s loved ones indicated they plan to establish a memorial scholarship fund in his name, for the advancement of education in law enforcement.