On February 1st, at the Board of Trustees meeting, Police Chief John Petrozzi announced that he will be officially retiring as Chief of Police on April 3, 2021. Chief Petrozzi has served the residents of Perry Township as Police Chief for the past five years and has been a member of law enforcement for 38 years. During his tenure as Chief of Police, his many accomplishments include reorganization of the department to increase efficiency, the creation of a detective bureau and the implementation of increased training requirements for Officers. He also instituted an intern program for high school students, a self-defense training class for women and implemented several changes to the patrol fleet that translated into significant savings for the Township. It has been an honor to have Chief Petrozzi lead the Perry Township Police Department and we appreciate his exemplary leadership.
The Board of Trustees promoted Lt. Steve Cesaro, a 24-year veteran of the department, to be the new Police Chief effective March 1, 2021. Lt. Cesaro was highly recommended for the position by both Chief Petrozzi and Township Administrator, Beth Beatty. Lt. Cesaro has advanced through the ranks at Perry Township including 12 years as a Patrol Officer, 2 years as a Sergeant and the past 10 years as a Lieutenant and Chief Petrozzi’s right-hand-man. Lt. Cesaro is currently responsible for managing the department's three shift Sergeants and 14 Officers. Lt Cesaro has received multiple recognitions from his peers throughout his law enforcement career.
Chief Petrozzi and Lt. Cesaro will be working together over the next two months to ensure a smooth and productive transition of leadership in the Police Department.
Chief John Petrozzi will not be leaving the Township when he retires; he has accepted the position of Zoning Inspector and will be starting on April 4th. John has several years of experience in the home building business and is currently a certified home inspector. As such, he is very familiar with zoning practices and procedures and will be a great addition to the Zoning department.