BY TED POTTS
TPOTTS@TRIBDEM.COM
Ron Pavic has retired as police chief in East Conemaugh Borough, a position he held since 1999.
His retirement, which was effective Jan. 1, ends a career as an East Conemaugh law officer that began in 1969. He was a captain when he was named police chief.
He was employed part-time until being named chief. He also served as a Conemaugh Township (Cambria County) policeman on a part-time basis for about five years in the 1980s, he said.
He became a member of the East Conemaugh force at the request of former Chief George Fesko, now deceased, who asked him to join the department to fill a vacancy.
He accepted the offer and eventually, he said, being a police officer “caught on” with him.
He enjoyed police work, he said Thursday.
He said he liked helping people and “straightening out” young people who were getting away from the straight and narrow.
During his career, he has dealt with shootings, burglaries, brawls and the like.
He was successful in helping the borough obtain various grants for the police department.
“It’s important to keep updating the equipment,” he said.
He put a special value on the opportunities he had to interact with his neighbors – both young and old.
In recent years, he said some residents were becoming less cooperative with the police.
He mentioned efforts police are making to limit narcotics use in the borough.
“It’s difficult. People don’t want to get involved,” he said.
He believes that some in the community could be more helpful to the police.
Sometimes, he said, it seems people are more interested in keeping an eye on the police rather than the criminals.
Pavic and the former Kathleen Stiffler of Lower Yoder Township were married in 1966. They have three sons – Richard, Vincent and Brian.
There is one grandson, 6-year-old Justin, who is an elementary student in the Ferndale Area School District.
Kathleen Pavic is a ward secretary at Windber Medical Center.
Pavic served in the Marines from 1964 through 1968.
He is not completely retired. Pavic is continuing to work as a security guard for EMF Corp. in Franklin Borough.
His retirement as a police officer will provide more opportunities to travel for him and his wife, he said.
It will give him more time to ride his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, take his speedboat on waterways and fish. He will have more time to spend with Bandit, his 6-year-old poodle.
Pavic has been a disc jockey since the 1970s, he said, going by the moniker DJ Rat Patrol. He plays mainly at parties and weddings, he said.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Todd Berkey
Discussion
East Conemaugh’s police chief retires
- Local News
-
-
Female jail guards to stand trial in alleged inmate trysts
Two suspended female Indiana County jail guards have been ordered to stand trial in connection with alleged sexual assaults involving three female inmates.
-
Highlights of Gov. Corbett's state spending plan
Read on to see a bulleted list of Gov. Tom Corbett’s $27.1 billion state spending plan for the year that starts July 1.
-
Pa. gas drilling fee bill debate ends without vote
Pennsylvania, the only major gas-producing state that does not tax the taking of natural gas from its soil, moved closer Tuesday to imposing a fee on the drilling in the vast Marcellus Shale reserves that have transformed the state in recent years.
-
Blogging with heart
I was feeling overwhelmed yesterday, so today, I’m organizing my work. I have talked to probably a couple dozen people for Heart Month stories and I have pages and pages of notes.
-
$27.1B budget proposed
Gov. Tom Corbett on Tuesday proposed a budget of $27.1 billion, with no tax increases, deep cuts to higher education assistance and a range of cost-cutting in services for the poor, elderly and disabled.
-
Universities face steep cuts
State universities still trying to recover from deep cuts last year would have their public funding slashed even further under a budget plan unveiled Tuesday, leading some institutions to warn of a choice between maintaining buildings and offering academic programs students need to graduate.
-
Plan hurts middle class, local Democrats contend
While members of his own party praised Gov. Tom Corbett’s fiscal restraint, some local Democratic lawmakers said the Republican’s proposed budget panders to corporate interests while inflicting pain on the middle class.
-
Detour hurting some Portage businesses
Craig Mazzarese’s business depends heavily on drive-by customers, but since last week fewer drive-bys have been stopping
-
Local airport funding intact
Airport leaders here are breathing sighs of relief after Congress approved funding to support local commercial air service through 2015.
-
With state revenue tight, Westmont seeks school budget input
The Westmont Hilltop school board on Tuesday night held a public forum at the middle school to explain why the district, already one of the most efficient in the state, must raise taxes each year.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Female jail guards to stand trial in alleged inmate trysts
White House Attacks Romney on Birth Control
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Mo. Teen Gets Life Sentence for Killing Girl, 9
Lower-hassle Screening to Be Tested at Airports
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Helmet Camera Captures Calif. Fire Rescue
Worker Tells 911: Powell 'exploded the House'
Triple Win: Santorum Takes Minn., Mo., Colo.
Injured Marine Inspired by Homecoming
No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner
Egypt's Ruling Generals Play Risky Game With US
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
