Council hires new police chief

Borough also fills 2 vacant patrol officer positions

PHOENIXVILLE >> After a nearly sixmonth search for the next leader of the Phoenixville Police Department, officials settled on a man who’s been there all along.

Borough council unanimously approved Lt. Thomas Sjostrom as the new chief of police Tuesday night. Sjostrom served as acting chief following former Chief William Mossman’s retirement in September. Sjostrom’s official swearing-in ceremony will take place at the March 14 council meeting.

Borough Manager Jean Krack informed Digital First Media the borough could not yet provide a copy of Sjostrom’s public contract by press time Thursday, as he was waiting for Mayor Michael Speck’s signature. Speck was expected to

sign the document Friday morning. However, Krack did say Sjostrom’s salary per the contract is biweekly $4,557.69, which translates to approximately $118,500 a year.

Council also hired Patrolmen Paul Ansaldo and Peter Karpovich to fill vacancies within the department. Full patrol salary is approximately $83,000 a year. The starting salary is 80 percent of that. After a year it increases to 90 percent of that. Then after two years, they earn the full salary.

Several members of council said the search for Mossman’s replacement was a tough one and congratulated Sjostrom.

“I think Phoenixville was very blessed to have a number of great candidates go through the process,” said Councilman John Ichter

II. “It was a trying and time consuming process for both the candidates and council. I think everybody that was involved did it with high regard for the situation that the borough was in and I think we found the right guy. Congratulations, Lieutenant. I’m looking forward to great years ahead.”

“The applicants and staff put a lot of time in and invested a lot of time to get to the right decision,” said council President James Kovaleski, “because this is probably one of the most important roles in the borough on the staff side at least. I commend the lieutenant and the other applicants because they were all very capable.”

“I’m also glad we chose to promote someone from within,” said Councilman Michael Kuznar. “This is a very unique borough. Someone who takes on this role should have experience with the Phoenixville borough.”