Avalon's newest full-time police officers are former part-timers Walt Johnson (left) and Sean Kirley. Photo by Tom Steiner for The Citizen

Two part-time Avalon police officers are now working full-time for the borough, hired Tuesday to fill vacancies in the department.

Avalon Council voted unanimously to hire Walt Johnson and Sean Kirley to fill the recently-created vacancies. One job opening came when Tom Kokoski was promoted from officer to chief, and the other with the retirement of long-time officer Paul Lawry.

Johnson has nine years of experience as a police officer, and has worked part-time for Avalon for the last four years. He also has worked part-time for the Stowe and West View police departments.

Kirley has been with Avalon for only three months, but spent a year and a half working part-time in McKees Rocks and nine months doing the same in Coraopolis.

Both officers were sworn in by Mayor David Haslett, and told council that they hoped to spend their law enforcement careers working in the borough.

“This was such a big deal to both of us,” Johnson told council members, thanking them for their decision to hire the men.

“I know you made the right choice,” Kirley told them. “I’ll prove it to you.”

Kokoski said that he was glad that council had acted so quickly to address the department’s manpower needs.

“The potential right now is going to be unlimited,” he said.

Council approved the department’s participation in the West Hills DUI Tas Force, which sets up traffic checkpoints in member communities manned by officers from various jurisdictions.

Council also approved a $500 per month increase in Lawry’s pension payment due to longevity, as required by the police contract.