Campbell police officers promoted

By Brandon Klein | May 23, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

CAMPBELL

Four police officers promoted officially took their oaths of office.

Mayor Bill VanSuch and Police Chief Drew Rauzan issued the oaths Friday afternoon with the officers’ families and friends gathered to watch at the Campbell Police Officers’ Memorial at city hall, 351 Tenney Ave.

Taking the oath as detective sergeants were Joe Pavlansky, 35; Dave Smith, 36; and Charles Butch, 38. Kevin Sferra, 39, took the oath as a lieutenant.

“This is a great day for the Campbell Police Department,” Rauzan said.

Pavlansky, Smith and Butch have served the police department since 2009. Pavlansky is an Army veteran. Smith continues to serve as the department’s full-time representative to the FBI’s Violent Crime Task Force for Mahoning County. Butch previously served with the Coitsville Police Department from 1998 to 2009.

Sferra has worked for Campbell since 2001. He most recently served as detective sergeant since last September. He also served as the department’s lead detective and Mahoning County Drug Task Force representative.

“They’re very well- deserving [of the promotion],” VanSuch said. “I wish them nothing but the best.”

Sferra replaces former Lt. John Rusnak, who was demoted to patrolman earlier this year for his mishandling of an investigation at Campbell Memorial High School in 2012, and other work-related misconduct, police officials said.