Aug 25, 2015 By Suzanne Elliott 1 min read

Peters Township has hired Doug Grimes, a Pennsylvania State Police major, as its new deputy chief.

Township manager Michael Silvestri confirmed the hiring of Grimes following the Aug. 24 council meeting. Grimes, who has nearly 30 years of law enforcement experience, will start at the end of the month, Silvestri said.

Council has been searching for a deputy chief since the beginning of the year when it became clear that Captain Michael Yanchak, the department’s second-highest ranking officer, announced his intent to retire at the end of the year. Yanchak has been with the department since 1982.

In addition, police Chief Harry Fruecht is expected to retire in 2016. Grimes, who is currently based in Harrisburg, is executive director of the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission for the state police, a position he has held for more than two years.

Grimes has been with the state police in a variety of positions since 1987. He was also a Forward Township police officer from January 1986 to April 1987. He has a degree in Criminal Justice from Elizabethtown College in Lancaster County.

The township has said the pay range for the position is $60,000 to $93,420.