W-B swears in 10 new police officers

Shawn Yelland holds his son 4-year-old Mason after he was sworn in as one of the 10 new Wilkes-Barre police officers on Tuesday morning.

New badges wait to be pinned on the city’s newest police officers Tuesday at City Hall.

Edward Lewko is the last of 10 new police officers sworn in by Mayor Tom Leighton as Stephen Wingen signs a contract after being sworn in Tuesday morning.

Margaret Kosakowski pins a badge on her son Kevin Kosakowski after he was sworn in as a new city police officer while Police Chief Robert Hughes looks on.

The 10 newly sworn in city police officers stand with heads bowed as the chaplain says a prayer for them.

Police Chaplain Duane Gavitt congratulates new city police officers Shawn Yelland and Peter Cordaro.

WILKES-BARRE — A large crowd looked on in council chambers Tuesday as 10 new city police officers were sworn in wearing suits and ties and shiny new badges, but the message was sobering.

“There will be challenging times and scary moments,” said Rev. J. Duane Gavitt, the police department’s chaplain.

Police Chief Robert Hughes said the new officers are beginning a new call to service.

“There will be late nights,” he said. “There will be middle of the night call-outs. You are prepared for this.”

Mayor Tom Leighton said Tuesday’s ceremony marked “another great day for public safety” for the city he has led since 2004.

Their appointment brings the department’s complement to 88 total officers.

“Today doesn’t happen just because people retired,” Leighton said. “We have made a commitment to public safety by maintaining the number of officers on our police force.”

Then, one by one, the officers were sworn in by Leighton, accompanied by their wives, parents and loved ones.

Sworn in Tuesday were: Brian Casella, Peter Cordaro, Justin Edwards, Kevin Kosakowski, Edward Lewko, Jason Oliver, Shane Smith, Michael Twerdi, Stephen Wingen and Shawn Yelland.

“This is a very proud moment,” said Bonnie Casella, wife of new officer Brian Casella. “We are all praying for his safety.”

Mrs. Casella said her husband always wanted to join the city force. His father is a retired city police officer, having served 37 years.

“I guess you can say it’s in his blood,” she said. “Brian has always had a passion to do this.”

Casella, 29, served eight years with the Forty Fort Borough Police Department.

“Wilkes-Barre is a great police department,” she said. “They have great support for each other.”

Gretchen Yelland, wife of new officer Shawn Yelland, was waiting with the couple’s five children after the ceremony.

“We’re all so proud of Shawn,” she said. “He has always wanted to serve and protect this city. Like any job, there is always concern for safety.”

The five children range in ages from 14 to 4 years old. Yelland, a U.S. Army veteran, is 35.

Casella’s grandfather, Al Casella, 91, a retired iron worker, said it was a proud moment for him and his family, having his son a retired officer and now his grandson beginning his career on the city force.

“This is a good day,” he said.

Following the ceremony, Leighton said the hirings were possible because of years of cost-cutting by his administration in areas like energy and debt-restructuring.

“The public needs to understand that it costs nearly $100,000 per officer for salaries and benefits,” Leighton said. “There are 10 new officers receiving health care, but the 10 they are replacing are also receiving health care.”

Leighton said he and his administration have saved the city hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years by cutting spending and by trimming budgets department by department.

“We have laid off people and we have eliminated positions,” the mayor said. “It’s been a tough 11 years financially. But we have never wavered on public safety.”

Leighton said he told the new officers that he doesn’t need heroes.

“I told them to just go out and do a good job,” he said. “And safely return home to your family every night.”