Brookfield introduces new police chief

Michael Roknick, The Herald, Sharon, Pa.
·2 min read

Mar. 4—BROOKFIELD — Aaron Kasiewicz was introduced as Brookfield's incoming police chief Monday evening at the township trustees meeting.

Kasiewicz currently serves as a detective sergeant with the department and is expected to take the helm on July 1, when Chief Dan Faustino retires. Faustino has served in that role for 27 years.

"We found a police chief in our own walls," Trustee Dan Suttles said.

Standing in front of the seated trustees at Brookfield's administration building meeting room, Kasiewicz spoke briefly to the audience of more than 20 members. He noted he has lived in Brookfield for 42 years and has spent 23 years with the police department.

"This is home to me," he said. "This has been my career."

Kasiewicz added he was excited about his new role.

After the meeting, Suttles said the trustees will work on a creating a contract with Kasiewicz and then will formally hire him for the new post at a future meeting.

Fire department

In other action on its fire department, the trustees unanimously agreed to hire two full-time firefighter/paramedics. An agreement is being worked on with the union representing the department's employees to allow that to happen, the trustees said. The current contract allows only one hire for that slot in a given year.

"This is going to help with safety," Trustee Mark Ferrara said.

Road projectsSince voters approved a road levy in the last election, Brookfield is eagerly planning improvements over the next two years, Jamie Fredenburg, Brookfield's road supervisor said.

Also, Brookfield landed a 0% loan through state for over $1 million that will give road repairs a good kickstart, Suttles said.

Separately, Suttles said the trustees have learned a new company is taking a serious look at creating an injection well "real close" to the Brookfield school district's property. He said another company previously tried to create an injection well at the site but abandoned the project several years ago.

Injection wells have created controversy. The oil and natural gas industry can use these wells to dispose of waste water that typically contains chemicals and other materials. Injection wells can also be used as a method to recover oil and natural gas.

Trumbull County owns land near the site, Suttles said. He got approval from the trustees to ask the county to deny the company access to their land to reach the site.

"They're spending a lot of money," he said of the company interested in creating the injection well. "I want to stop it. I don't think this is good for our community."