Edgeworth hires retired Ohio Township corporal as its newest police officer
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Edgeworth officials have added new manpower and equipment to their police force.
Council unanimously approved the hiring of full-time officer Russ Hartzell and the purchase of a new Ford Explorer Interceptor last month.
Hartzell, 43, of Ohio Township was selected out of two candidates and had the highest scores out of those on the certified Civil Service Commission list, according to Borough Manager Ellen Politi.
“We’re very happy to have him in the borough and he has lots of experience,” Politi said.
Hartzell was sworn in Feb. 18 and started work the following day.
“I like it,” Hartzell said near the start of his late night shift on March 5. “Happy and excited to be here and help out in the community anyway that I can.”
His wife, Laura, pinned his badge to the uniform as part of the swearing in ceremony.
Hartzell comes to Edgeworth with more than 20 years of law enforcement experience.
He started his career as a part-time officer in McKees Rocks in 2002. Hartzell had a brief stint with the Pennsylvania Capitol Police in Harrisburg before joining the Ohio Township Police Department in 2003.
Hartzell said he became familiar with the Edgeworth, Sewickley and neighboring police with the departments being on the same radio channel.
He found Edgeworth to be a close-knit community where, “you can tell that the residents care about the employees here.”
Hartzell said he also worked as a negotiator with North Hills SWAT and became a certified car seat inspector while working for Ohio Township.
He retired from the township force as a corporal in 2023 and moved with his wife, Laura, to Sarasota, Fla.
Hartzell served as a deputy sheriff at the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office in the Sunshine State until family commitments and hurricanes caused the couple to move back to Ohio Township.
He plans on getting recertified in child passenger safety through Safe Kids Pennsylvania and eventually hosting car seat safety checks in Edgeworth.
Hartzell developed a love of law enforcement growing up in Avalon with his late father, former Pennsylvania Capitol Police sergeant Fran Hartzell.
The elder was also a board member of the Pennsylvania Police Olympics, a state-wide competition that began in 1982 and lasted for about 25 years.
The games took place in North Park and featured competitors from city, township and borough police departments throughout the commonwealth.
Hartzell said he would sell merchandise at the games during the 1990s.
Growing up with a father in law enforcement, watching the games and cop shows on TV created a desire to become an officer and help people.
Hartzell recently earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Point Park University.
Hartzell’s hiring brings the department to six full-time officers including Chief John Burlett, who called his new recruit a great guy with a great personality.
Burlett said he plans to get Hartzell involved in traffic and DUI enforcement.
Edgeworth and Ohio Township are among several municipalities involved in the West Hills DUI Task Force.
Ivan Hofmann, council vice president and public safety chair, interviewed Hartzell as part of the hiring process.
“He is certainly one of the most qualified candidates we have had,” Hofmann said.
The councilman said he was impressed with Hartzell’s work experience and openness, citing a discussion about Florida.
“He told me he moved there for the sunshine and to get away from the cold weather,” Hofmann said. “When I asked him why he wanted to get back to the Pittsburgh area, he asked me if I had ever been in a hurricane. I hadn’t. He said it was one of the most terrifying experiences he and his wife had been through and knew he needed to get back to Pittsburgh. He came to appreciate what a great place it was to live. … He is a highly experienced, professional officer and we are fortunate to have him join the force.”
Hartzell’s starting salary is $35.81 per hour.
The borough police department plans to put a new vehicle in service by next month.
New vehicle
Council authorized the purchase of a 2025 Ford Explorer from Tri-Star Ford and outfitted by Delmont-based Valero Service.
The estimated $45,000 acquisition is being made through COSTARS, a state cooperative purchasing program that helps municipalities get the best price on equipment and other goods.
The vehicle will replace a 2020 vehicle with 80,000 miles.
Burlett said council tends to replace police cars every four to five years to ensure they have reliable vehicles, reduce maintenance costs and maximize any trade value.
“Anything that idles for an extended period of time, the engine wears a lot faster,” the chief said. “We always get great support from our council and citizens. It’s one of the better places to work.”
The police department has three vehicles in its fleet.