The Jim Thorpe Borough Council announced at Thursday meeting that the Jim Thorpe Police Department created a new rank.

“The borough has established in the police department a corporal position,” Council President Greg Strubinger said. “The Civil Service Commission was engaged to do the testing, and we had a successful candidate, Officer Kyle Kohler.”

Sgt. Michelangelo Bokeko introduced Kohler to those attending the council meeting, and read a message from Jim Thorpe Police Chief Joseph Schatz, who could not be at the meeting.

“I am unable to attend the promotion of Kyle Kohler due to the fact that I am on vacation,” Sgt. Bokeko read from the chief’s message. “I did not want to wait until next month to make this appointment.

“I”d like to take this time to congratulate Kyle Kohler in this newly formed position of corporal in the Jim Thorpe Police Department. Corporal Kohler has already become a big asset to the department. I believe in his new role as corporal, he will help shape the future leadership of the Jim Thorpe Police Department.”

Kohler was joined by his mother, Jane Kohler, and his wife, Tara Kohler. Jane Kohler pinned a chevron, a sign of the new rank, on Cpl. Kohler’s shirt.

The new position begins Monday with a 12-month probationary period.

Kohler became a full-time officer with the department in January 2012.