Norwin hires school cop

Norwin’s new school police officer will be armed and have the authority to issue citations and make arrests.

Jeffrey Pritts, of Hempfield, was hired this week by the school board, effective Nov. 1, or upon his release from Mt. Pleasant Area School District, where he has been an officer since 2014. He retired from the City of Greensburg force in 2014 after serving as an officer 26 years.

Pritts will be paid $28 an hour and will work 190 days of the school year, including teacher in-service days.

Superintendent William Kerr said Pritts will be stationed at the high school and will visit the district’s other buildings and properties.

The district solicitor was asked to petition the Westmoreland County Court to approve Pritts’ hiring, as required by state code.

Adding a school police officer was one of the recommendations that arose during school safety meetings with students, faculty and staff this spring.