New officer hired; retiring officer saluted
>> Russell Closs III is the newest Pennridge Regional Police officer. Officer Stephen DiGiovanni is retiring after 22 years with the department.
Both were recognized at the March 24 Pennridge Regional Police Commission meeting held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Closs is in field training with the department and progressing well, Police Chief Rodney Blake said.
Detective Sgt. Russell Closs, of the Perkasie Borough Police Department, pinned his son Ofc. Closs’ badge on in the pinning ceremony.
“I believe that those who wear the badge are positioned to stand on the line that keeps evil away from good,” Blake said. “Officer Closs joins a group of 700,000 men and women professionals who are committed to protect the people they serve.”
Closs, who is married with two children, is a Perkasie resident, Blake said.
Commission Chairman Jim Miller wished Closs all the best.
“We’re happy to have him in our police department and I’m sure he’s gonna be a fine officer,” Miller said.
During the time since his hiring in January of 1999, DiGiovanni has served in various capacities with the department, including traffic safety officer, part of the Bucks County Crash Team, coordinator of the Upper Bucks Motor Carrier Safety Enforcement Team, and as a community event coordinator, specifically for a 5K run benefiting Pennridge FISH, Blake said.
Performance evaluations of DiGiovanni always had a common theme, he said: “Above average in the performance of his duties and gets along well with others.”
“Officer Stephen DiGiovanni received many accolades over his 22 years of law enforcement and has been a vital member of this department,” Blake said. “As chief of police of this organization I extend my gratitude for a job well done.”
“You’ve been an exemplary officer and it’s been my pleasure to work with you on a couple different occasions and I will miss you a lot, so take care,” Miller told DiGiovanni.
“Thank you very much. I appreciate everything that everybody’s done for me over the years,” DiGiovanni said. “I couldn’t ask for a finer career.”
In another matter at the meeting, Blake read aloud a letter from Perkasie Borough Police Chief Robert Schurr thanking Pennridge Regional officers Daniel Forbes and Stephanie Kolb for their assistance during a home invasion in Perkasie in February.
“As a result of the quick response and coordinated efforts, the suspect was quickly located, identified and taken into custody,” Schurr wrote.
He said it’s reassuring to know his department can count on assistance from professional, well-trained officers on neighboring departments when needed.