Warren Police promote three officers to upper ranks

The Warren Police Department promoted three officers with a swearing-in ceremony Thursday morning.

Jeffrey Orth was sworn in to be a Lieutenant officer, while Michael Sajnovsky Jr. and Chad Shrader were promoted to Sergeant roles.

These officers were required to work as patrolmen for years before they could complete an exam, promoting them to the upper ranks.

As leaders within the department, Sgt. Sajnovsky and Sgt. Shrader will take some responsibility in training new members.

Warren Police Chief Eric Merkel tells 21 News, having two new Sergeants to fulfill the training role helps promote officer safety when responding to difficult calls.

"They're out there working hand in hand with the officers that are actually doing some of the dangerous work out there, so it's important that they know their job and are able to teach that to others," Chief Merkel said.

Moving forward, Merkel hopes to add new patrol officers to the department. He tells 21 News the position can be difficult to fill, as low interest in the career contributes to a nation-wide shortage of officers.

"It's a great time to get in law enforcement right now, there's a lot of incentives out there," Merkel noted. "It's got a bad rap right now but we're hoping that turns around."

Out of a total 70 officers the Warren Police Department is able to employ, they currently have 60.