Greensburg police to promote two officers, filling longstanding gap

Greensburg City Council is expected to promote two police sergeants to lieutenants next week, filling a gap in the chain of command that has existed for several years.

Officers Shawn Denning and Jason Gain are up for promotions.

The Greensburg Police Department must have 27 police officers, including three lieutenants and three sergeants, as dictated by its contract with the city.

From 2014 through 2016 nine policemen retired or resigned, leaving the department without enough experienced officers to fill those roles.

An officer must serve as a sergeant for at least a year before being eligible to become a lieutenant. In May 2016 the department had only one sergeant, and one lieutenant.

In 2016 and early 2017 the department promoted several patrolmen to sergeants, including Denning and Gain, with the intention of making another round of promotions after a year.

Once Gain and Denning become lieutenants, the department's organizational structure will be complete for the first time in years, according to Chief Chad Zucco.

Gain joined the department in 2004, Denning in 2008.

If their promotions are approved at Monday's council meeting they will be sworn in that night.

Jacob Tierney is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-836-6646 or jtierney@tribweb.com.