WEST PITTSTON — After months serving as officer-in-charge, Sgt. Mike Turner was promoted to chief of police by council this week.
The unanimous decision was met with applause and a standing ovation for Turner, who shook hands and gave hugs to those congratulating him.
“I was humbled by the support I had and I’m looking forward to the task,” Turner said. “I’m looking forward to leading this department with a bunch of great guys, a very supportive mayor, and I’m just looking to be the chief of this community.”
Turner will be sworn in at 4 p.m. Friday at the borough building.
He was named officer-in-charge last fall after former chief, Paul Porfirio, stepped down due to medical reasons.
Mayor Tom Blaskiewicz said he admired Turner’s patience during the process of naming a new chief.
“For Mike, it’s been a tough year being officer-in-charge and waiting to know what the next steps would be,” Blaskiewicz said. “To finally call him chief of police is a great feeling. Mike is a great police officer, and I think he’ll do a super job.”
At their June meeting, council members voted to have the borough’s civil service commission handle the task of interviewing potential candidates for the position.
Turner went through an interview process with the commission, who eventually recommended his hiring to council.
Council president Judy Aita said Turner’s promotion is a recognition of the hard work he’s done as officer-in-charge.
“We’re just thrilled to have someone of his caliber in taking on the job,” she said. “Working with him all these months, he’s just been so responsive and so proactive. We’re delighted that he now is recognized for the work that he’s done and he’s been doing.”
Turner recalled the relationship he shared with former borough mayor, Tony Denisco, who died in April 2016.
“He was like my second father,” Turner said of Denisco. “There is no doubt in my mind that he is with me today, and he’s probably thrilled.”
Turner started with the West Pittston Police Department as a patrolman in 2002 before becoming full time in 2005. He was named sergeant in 2012 and held that title while serving as officer-in-charge.
“This is everyone’s goal in law enforcement to hold the office of the chief of police,” Turner said. “To hold the office of chief of police here in West Pittston, with all of the prior chiefs that served this community, I’m honored. I’m honored to be … with those names of the past. … I’m going to give my 110 percent to this borough.”
