Hatboro Hires New Cop

John F. Gibson IV spent four years serving his country as a Marine and beginning Tuesday he will serve Hatboro as its newest police officer. 

On Monday night the Hatboro Borough Council unanimously approved hiring Gibson, 23, a Doylestown native, to the post of full-time police officer. A 2007 Central Bucks South graduate, Gibson told Patch he enlisted in the military following high school. 

During his four years of service which ended in September, Gibson, who worked as an ammo tech, spent five months in Afghanistan. Despite the dangerous deployment, he lists his graduation from boot camp as the top military highlight. 

Since being honorably discharged from the military, Gibson transitioned almost immediately into law enforcement, having graduated in March from the police academy. 

"I just think I'd be great for the job," Gibson said, adding that his personality suits him to work as a police officer. 

Police Chief James Gardner told Patch previously that Gibson would make just over $32,000 as a patrol officer and would participate in three months of training.

With Gibson's hire, the has 14 sworn officers and returns to being fully staffed. 

A vacancy in the department was left after Detective Sergeant John Becker was , and then last year after sources close to an ongoing investigation claimed that he allegedly used his authority to obtain painkillers without a perscription, .