Sgt. Don Johnson was sworn in by Mayor Margo Zuch to his new position as lieutenant and Cpl. Brian Moore was sworn in as sergeant.

Council began the process back in November to designate new rankings to fall more in line with the officers’ duties, which created the new lieutenant position.

Johnson began his career on the force in 1996 and was promoted to full-time in 2000.

In 2012 he was named sergeant and became the department’s first K-9 handler in charge of Toney, a female Belgian Malinois.

The department acquired Toney after raising the roughly $7,000 to cover her training and other expenses.

“I’m very honored and proud to serve in the community where I was raised and extremely excited to continue my career with, in my opinion, some of the greatest officers in the area,” Johnson said.

Moore began his career with the force in 1996 as well and was promoted to full-time in 1999. By 2012 he had earned the ranking of corporal.

Moore has served as the department’s DARE program instructor and school resource officer over the years. He is currently a member of the district’s board of education and is also involved with the East Palestine Youth Sports Association.

“I’m excited to move forward with the new administration and keep heading the department forward,” Moore said.

Johnson and Moore’s new hourly wage rates were included in the 4 percent increase approved by council in early December for members of the Fraternal Order of Police union.

“I am proud of the entire department. These guys work hard every day,” Chief Jim Brown III said.

Johnson and Moore’s promotions were celebrated by friends, family and other members of the department that evening, including retired police chief Kevin Dickey.

Another officer promoted that evening was part-time patrolman and school resource officer Jake Koehler. He was promoted to full-time.

kwhite@mojonews.com

Orginally published in Morning Journal on 1/23/18