Four officers will be joining the Ross Police Department in the coming months.

Township commissioners last night approved the hiring of the patrolmen. The new hires are part of an effort to return the department to its full complement of 43.

Ross deploys 40 officers, including Chief Ralph Freedman, with additional vacancies expected as the result of retirements and medical leaves during 2010.

Plans call for the likely hiring of an additional four recruits this summer.

Commissioners took individual votes to approve the four men. They were the top four ranked candidates by the township's civil service board.

The new officers are Balazs Devenyi, Jonathan Killmeyer, William G. Snyder Jr. and Sean Stafiej.

Their employment is contingent on their graduating from the Allegheny County Police Academy and passing psychological and physical testing. All must pass a one-year probationary period to be hired permanently.

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