Armstrong Co. borough left with no local police after chief quits following first shift

FREEPORT, Pa. — An Armstrong County borough has been left with no full-time police officers after the newly hired chief quit following his first shift.

The borough of Freeport has been without an officer on duty since Nov. 3, when the newly hired police chief quit, according to our partners at The Trib.

Patrol duties and call responses are currently being handled by the State Police.

Retired Plum police Sgt. Matthew Feldmeier, 58, was hired as chief Nov. 1 and was sworn in that night by Mayor James Swartz Jr. He was the only applicant for the $53,500-a-year job.

Swartz said Feldmeier worked his first shift during the day on Nov. 2 and participated in interviews that evening to fill two open positions for police officers.

But when the borough secretary arrived at the borough building the following morning, she found the chief’s badge, office keys and a handwritten letter of resignation stating that he was leaving “to pursue other interests,” the mayor said.

The only other police officer on the borough’s roster a part-timer who has not worked a shift in several months due to other job obligations.

On the night Feldmeier was sworn in, council approved hiring two police officers, but those positions have not been filled.

Read more from our partners at The Trib.

To apply to be a police officer with the Freeport Borough, click here to contact the borough and ask for an application. https://freeportpa.com/contact/

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