Veteran officer named acting police chief in Rostraver Township

By CHRISTINE HAINES
chaines@yourmvi.com

After 33 years there will be a change of leadership for the Rostraver Township Police Department.
Chief Greg Resetar will begin a leave of absence June 6 through Nov. 8, at which time his retirement is expected to take place. The township commissioners Wednesday voted 3-2 in favor of accepting a memorandum of understanding with Resetar and appointing Lt. John Christner, who also has 33 years of service with the department, as the acting chief.
Commissioners John Lorenzo and Henry Boldyzar voted against the motion, both saying they fully supported Christner as acting chief, but had issues with the memorandum of understanding with Resetar, which gives him full administrative access to the department during his leave.
“I feel it needs to be as clean a cut as possible, with Christner in charge,” President John Lorenzo said as he cast his “no” vote.
Lorenzo said he feels it is in the best interest of the department to have one clear administrator, without the chief who is on leave coming and going at will. All of the commissioners agreed that having Resetar available as a consultant to Christner during his leave was a good idea.
Christner was hired at the same time as Resetar and has been serving as a lieutenant on the police force.
“He’s one of our most decorated officers and demonstrates integrity, leadership and character,” Lorenzo said. “That department isn’t going to miss a beat. At the end of the year, we’re going to go through the process of naming a full-time chief.”

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