Sewickley police chief always kept his door open
The Sewickley Police Department under Chief Jim Ersher's leadership operated as a team, with officers putting aside the ‘I' and always working together to better protect and serve their community, Capt. Rich Manko said.
“The officers who worked with him, he didn't need to order anybody to do anything,” Manko said. “They volunteered to do it because they wanted to do it for Jim. That was reflected in his style of policing. He had an open-door policy for his officers and the community.”
Now those officers and their community must carry on without Mr. Ersher, 53, of Baden, who died Tuesday from a heart attack after nearly 10 years as Sewickley's police chief. His law enforcement career spanned three decades.
Born in Pittsburgh to the late Rudolph A. and Bernadette Brennan Ersher, Jim Ersher served in the Army's military police during peacetime in Germany, according to his obituary posted online by Ambridge-based John Syka Funeral Home.
A member of the Fraternal Order of Police and the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association, Mr. Ersher began his law enforcement career as a patrolman with Sewickley police in 1986.
Manko, who worked with Ersher for more than 30 years, described him as “very upbeat, very fair, and very down to earth.”
“He was always a positive individual,” Manko said. “He always could see the good in anybody.”
Hundreds of residents and police officers turned out Saturday morning for a funeral procession that started in Ambridge and followed Route 65. It turned into Edgeworth by Orchard Lane, then proceeded down Beaver Street to the municipal building, where a law enforcement tribute and ceremony took place.
Beaver Street business owners and employees stepped outside their shops to pay their respects as the procession passed.
“Of all the people in law enforcement that I have encountered, he was so welcoming and made you feel at home,” Leetsdale police Chief Dan Raible said. “You got the feeling that everything was going to be OK when he was with you.”
Mr. Ersher loved the outdoors, and his passion was spending time with his family, especially at his hunting camp, according to his obituary. He was active in the Sewickley Boro D.A.R.E. program, Baden Legion and the Sewickley Masonic Lodge.
Mr. Ersher is survived by his wife of 35 years, Angela Kohle Ersher; sons James and Tony Ersher, and daughter-in-law Jami Ersher, all of Baden; sister Elaine Ersher and brother David Ersher, both of Whitehall; mother-in-law, Barbara Kohle, of Baldwin; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Caroline and Kevin Flaherty, of West Mifflin; sister-in-law Barb Kohole, of Baldwin; brother-in-law David Kohle, of South Park; and three grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to Highland Elementary School in care of the Autistic Support Program, 1101 Highland Ave., Ambridge, PA 15003. Attention: Jamie Wellman.
Michael Walton is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 412-380-5627 or mwalton@tribweb.com. Staff members Andrew Russell and Jim Spezialetti contributed.
