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John Phoennik marks 10 years as police chief in South Fayette
John Phoennik marks 10 years as police chief
By Rachel Phoennik
This August, John Phoennik marks 10 years as chief of the South Fayette Township Police Department.
At 19 years old, Phoennik was working at a pizzeria when two officers encouraged him to sign up for the police academy.
Now, after 38 years in law enforcement, he wouldn’t change a thing.
“Everything has worked out perfectly,” he said during an interview in June.
Phoennik was a police captain for 11 years before becoming chief in 2014. He supervises 22 officers—plus a bloodhound and a German shepherd K9.
As chief, Phoennik has prioritized people and community, working to build a safe, welcoming environment for residents and officers.
“I never had aspirations to be in this position but was blessed to be in the right place at the right time,” he said.
Phoennik—a resident of South Fayette for 32 years—values ongoing education. In 2005, he graduated from the FBI National Academy, the nation’s premier program for advanced law enforcement training. This year, he sent Lt. John Leininger to the same program.
Developing a vision for the police department was the first step when Phoennik began to plan for his tenure as chief. He knew the importance of reaching community members in new ways to hear their concerns and opinions.
As a result, Phoennik has prioritized community-oriented events, holding periodic “Coffee with the Chief” gatherings that allow the public to sit down with him and ask questions.
Within the department itself, all officers deserve to be heard, seen and accepted, Phoennik said.
He sends weekly emails to his staff with goals and holds monthly staff meetings to discuss plans. He has an open-door policy to encourage conversations and create a less intimidating environment.
He also has boosted the number of officers and created specialized assignments.
“My proudest moment in my 10 years as chief has been the way the department has grown,” Phoennik said. “We have different units, including a traffic unit and two investigators, which allows us to serve the community of South Fayette better.”
Phoennik has helped make the department more inclusive; for example, he has hired the first two female police officers.
Officer Rebekah Schultz, an investigator, said the chief always is available to staff.
“If we need something, we know that we can call him and he’ll come out and help us,” she said.
Township Manager John M. Barrett said the chief has fostered a positive, professional environment that is widely noticed and appreciated.
“Chief Phoennik has really brought about respect for the department throughout the community, and that’s probably the best testament you can have,” he said.
Rachel Phoennik is a communications intern with South Fayette Township. She is the daughter of John Phoennik.
