AUSTINTOWN 3 officers promoted; patrolman is hired

All three received high marks on tests.
AUSTINTOWN -- Township trustees have promoted three police officers.
Sgt. Emil Grahovac, a 19-year township police veteran, was promoted to lieutenant, and patrolmen Jeff Solic, a 10-year veteran, and William Hoelzel, a 12-year veteran, were moved to sergeant posts Monday night.
In addition, the trustees hired Gregory Brinsko as a full-time patrolman.
As a lieutenant, Grahovac will be responsible for running a team of 10 officers. He also will back up the officers on the beat. His promotion follows the recent retirement of Police Lt. Jimmy Johnson, who served with the township police for 30 years.
As a sergeant, Hoelzel will assist lieutenants with their administrative duties. Solic, meanwhile, will head the township's Problem-Oriented Policing division. The division is a task force that works on specific problems, at the chief's direction.
Test results: Grahovac, Hoelzel and Solic earned their promotions by receiving high scores on assessment, written and oral tests. Brinsko also received high scores on the tests.
There are 42 officers on the township police force, including three lieutenants and five sergeants.
During Monday's meeting, trustees scheduled a public hearing for a controversial request to rezone nine lots along state Route 46 for retail business. The lots are zoned for either residences or administrative businesses.
The hearing is set for 6 p.m. June 4 in township hall on Ohltown Road. The trustees are expected to vote on the request after the hearing.