WEATHERSFIELD — Trustees voted unanimously to hire a new full-time police officer at their meeting Tuesday.

Desmond Gray joins the Weathersfield Police Department after previously working in full-time positions with the Jackson Township Police Department and the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office.

“He’s a great guy and he’s doing a great job,” Chief Michael J. Naples Jr. said. “He’s currently on dayturn for a short time, he’s training. Then, he’s going to go to the other two turns and be released. I don’t expect that to take very long.”

Naples expects Gray to be a good fit in Weathersfield.

“He’s fit in well with the officers, everybody is glad he’s here,” Naples said. “He’s a great addition to the department.”

Like Naples, the trustees said they were glad to see Gray join the department.

“We’re happy to have (him),” Trustee Ed Whittaker said.

Gray will earn the rate of pay for his position at 100% as well as receiving benefits and other considerations as set forth in the collective bargaining agreement between the trustees and Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association.

The police union agreement was ratified in November.

For the police department, under the new agreement, the first-year increase of 4.5% will bring a patrol officer to $28.41 per hour, sergeant to $30.68 per hour, and lieutenant to $33.14 per hour.

In other business, trustees approved a motion to hire Greg Rowley Jr. as a probationary firefighter effective Jan. 1.

Rowley Jr. will be trained and evaluated over the next six months by the fire chief and fire officers. After the six-month probationary period, the fire chief will determine if Rowley Jr. is promoted to firefighter.

Fire Captain Jeff Tucker said Rowley Jr. will serve at McKinley Heights Station 40 alongside his father, Greg Rowley, Sr., who has served on the fire department for more than 20 years.

“He’s following in his father’s footsteps so we’re happy to have him,” Tucker said.

mcole@tribtoday.com