FARRELL Police commission selects new chief

Riley Smoot has held just about every job in the department.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
FARRELL, Pa. -- The Southwest Mercer County Regional Police Commission has picked a 23-year veteran as its new police chief.
The commission, which serves Farrell, Wheatland and West Middlesex, voted Tuesday to name Sgt. Riley Smoot to that post, effective Jan. 1.
The salary for the job is budgeted at $44,750 for 2003.
Smoot, 45, of Farrell, was one of eight candidates for the job. Four of them were from within the department and four applied from outside.
James DeCapua, commission chairman, said the commission decided early in the selection process that it wanted to hire from within the department to find a successor to Joseph Timko who retired three months ago.
Praise
"Riley has really demonstrated a quality of leadership, both within the department and in the community," DeCapua said after the vote, adding that picking one person from among the four nominees was a very difficult task.
"I think he'll be accepted well by the entire community," DeCapua said, noting that Smoot is well respected both within the Fraternal Order of Police and in the community and is the best man to lead the department forward.
DeCapua offered praise for the work done by Detective Douglas Long who had served as interim chief while the commission sought a successor to Timko.
"This is my home. I love this community," Smoot said, adding that he is excited about the opportunity to serve as the department's chief.
"I get along well with the guys, and I feel I can do the job," he said.
Involved
Smoot has held just about every position in the department except chief.
He said he hopes to continue his D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) work on a limited basis but said he might have to relinquish his chairmanship of some community organizations.
He's chairman of the Farrell Recreation Commission, a member of the Weed and Seed community revitalization effort and is a member of the board of directors of the Shenango Valley Urban League.
He's a past vice president of the Mercer County Chapter of the NAACP, is extensively involved in church work, referees high school football and basketball and has coached football at Farrell High School and continues to coach girls softball.
He's on the board of directors of ERASE (Endorsed Resistance of All Substance Abuse Everywhere) and is chairman of the Communities That Care program.
DeCapua said the commission wants Smoot to maintain as much of his community work as possible.
"We want the chief to be very active in the community," he said, noting that was a factor that weighed heavily in Smoot's favor in the selection process.
Smoot, a lifelong Farrell resident, is married to the former Cheryl Roseboro. They have two daughters, Allyson, 17, and Ashley, 14.