Mahoning Township has named an officer in charge for its police department.

Township supervisors last week approved officer Tyler Meek for the position, effective Aug. 12.

The board will not say why Chief Audie Mertz is not working; supervisors held executive sessions on Aug. 10 and Aug. 12 for purpose of legal matters.

Meek has been a full-time officer with the township since August 2010.

Mertz was hired full time in May 2001, and has been police chief since March 2014.

According to the township’s labor counsel, attorney Christopher Gerber, the township does not comment on confidential personnel matters.

In Sept. 2023, supervisors after a brief executive session on a 3-2 vote approved a new three-year contract for Mertz.

As per the terms of the contract, Metz was scheduled to make $94,038 in 2023; $96,820 in 2024; and $99,725 in 2025.

It was noted that Mertz is in the Fraternal Order of Police.

In July 2023, supervisors approved a new three-year contract for the township’s police department.

After a 20-minute executive session, supervisors at that time approved the agreement between the township and the township’s police department.

The three-year agreement was from Jan. 1, 2023, through Dec. 31, 2025.

It called for an average increase of 3% in each of the years of the agreement.

As part of that contract, patrolmen made $38.90 an hour in 2023; $40.07 in 2024; and $41.26 in 2025.

The police department’s previous contract expired on Dec. 31, 2022.

Police coverage issues

In April, resident Linda Pollock, of Mahoning Drive West, asked supervisors for the township’s police department to share statistics with the public.

Board Chair Deb McGowan noted that supervisors previously asked Mertz to supply stats to be placed in the newspaper, but that hasn’t occurred.

Pollock then asked if the board is Mertz’s boss, to which McGowan said they all are and would again direct him to consider doing so.

Pollock said she previously read in the newspaper that the township police chief said the township doesn’t have a full-time police department.

McGowan explained to Pollock that the township does not have 24-hour coverage, as the hours from 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. are typically assigned to state police.

McGowan said that with Pollock bringing the matter up, the board would direct Mertz to begin to share police stats in the police logs of the newspaper or on their Facebook page.

In 2024, the township brought on a consultant to help its police department run more efficiently.

Law Enforcement Operations Consulting LLC was hired at a rate not to exceed $5,000.

Then board Chairman Robert Slaw said in March 2024 the move was designed “to help our police department run more efficiently.”

In November 2024, the township decided to create a performance appraisal and policy for its police officers.

Slaw explained after that meeting that the appraisal and policy was created so that Mertz could evaluate officers on their work ethics/abilities.

In September 2024, supervisors ratified several directives in relation to the police department.

At that time, supervisors ratified a directive dated July 30 of that year concerning scheduling of additional shifts; Aug. 22 for a scheduling change; and Aug. 28 regarding filling open shifts within budgetary constraints.

Mertz declined to comment on that situation.

Slaw said at that time the board wanted to be sure to put the actions into the minutes.

In August 2024, supervisors accepted the retirement of full-time officer Jeffrey Frace with the Deferred Retirement Option Plan, meaning his pension froze on Oct. 31, but he would continue to work full time for at least one year, but not more than three; and he will not have to contribute to his pension.

Frace was hired as a part-time officer in December 1997, and was full time since October 1999.

In May 2024, supervisors abolished the detective position after an executive session.

Residents have complained about police coverage, particularly about hours when the department is not working.