CRANBERRY TWP — The township's first and longtime police chief has died.

John R. Scarfo of Cranberry served the department for 34 years, retiring as chief in 1998. He died Sunday on his 78th birthday.

Scarfo saw the township and the police department experience exploding growth.

He was the first officer in the department when he was hired for a part-time position in 1964. When he retired, he was in charge of 19 officers. Today, the department has 28 officers.

Township police Sgt. Dave Kovach, who joined the department in 1978, said he remembers Scarfo as a proactive chief.

"He was responsible for starting a lot of the programs still in the community," Kovach said this morning. Particularly, he said, Scarfo focused on training, crime prevention and the DARE anti-drug program.

"He laid the groundwork for the department," Kovach said.

The Devlin Funeral Home of Cranberry is handling funeral arrangements.