Police Corporal Advances In Rank To Sergeant In Newtown Borough

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA — Newtown Borough Police Corporal Sean Orr officially advanced to the rank of sergeant during a swearing in ceremony at borough hall on Thursday.

Family, friends, colleagues and borough officials attended the event and watched as Mayor John Burke administered the oath of office to Orr who has been an officer here for 16 years.

Orr rose up through the ranks initially working as a part-time officer before making the transition to full-time. He was hired as a corporal in May 2006 and has spent the last 16 years protecting and serving the borough.

“This gives us a clear second in command. Prior to this we had two corporals, but I really felt it was important to have a clear second in command,” said Chief James Sabath of the promotion of Orr.

The promotion has been in the works for a number of years, but the Civil Service Commission wasn’t meeting due to COVID, said the chief.

“As soon as it became viable for us to meet with the Civil Service committee and set up the rules and the set up the process we got the ball rolling.

“It was a competitive process between the two corporals. Sgt. Orr came out ahead in that particular process and was selected by council to take that position,” said the chief.

In his new role, Sgt. Orr will assist the chief by overseeing, organizing, training, and directing the activities of law enforcement personnel in the department. He will also play a key role next year in shepherding the department through the accreditation process.

“It’s been an honor to serve with the officers in this department for the past 16 years,” said Orr. “We’re a community police department - friendly, approachable. We’re here for the community and we need them to be our eyes and ears because we can’t be everywhere at the same time,” he said.

The department currently has six full-time officers and six part-time officers.