CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — The choice for Evan Maxwell, of Clarion, to become a full-time police officer after giving up a job as a computer specialist at Clarion University was a tough one, but he had police work in his blood, and he could ignore it no longer.

(Pictured above: Clarion Borough Mayor Dan Parker; Clarion Borough Police Chief Bill Peck; and Evan Maxwell)

Evan’s father, Brett, was a police officer starting in 1980 with the Clarion Borough Police Department and was promoted to Deputy Police Chief, but succumbed to a battle with M.S. in 2014.

On Tuesday night, Clarion Borough Council watched the swearing in of Evan Maxwell by Mayor Dan Parker.  Police Chief Bill Peck witnessed the ceremony.

Evan grew up in Clarion and attended Clarion University, earning an undergraduate degree in computer information systems.

“After graduating from Clarion, I worked in the computer field for about a year,” said Evan.  “I just really had an interest in policing, so I attended the IUP Police Academy and graduate there at the top of my cadet class.  I was hired by Clarion Borough part-time and was also working part-time at the Clarion County Sheriff’s Office. I was working there until I was blessed to be hired full-time by Clarion Borough.”

Evan credits his dad’s input in making the decision to join the force.

“He enjoyed working as a police officer very much and was very fond of it.  Just listening to him telling stories about it — I think he passed on the bug to me.”

His mother Kimberly was also there for the ceremony and said that while she is a little nervous about the job change, probably like every other mom, said she supports him.

“She’s very proud, and I appreciate her support.  She’s just the best.”

Evan admits taking the new job as opposed to his earlier one in computer science was a tough choice, but he had his reasons.

“It was a tough choice, and I had an excellent job at the university and the people I was working with, but I just really felt called into this field and wanted to help people and make a difference in the community.  I thought this was the best way me for to do that.”

In the only other business at the advertised meeting, Council adopted Ordinance #2017-822, a Local Government Unite Debt Action (LGUDA) Ordinance in connection with a recently purchased truck for public works.  Permission was also approved to issue a check to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the amount of $51.85 for the filing fee for the LGUDA proceedings.  The ordinance covers the purchases of certain capital equipment over a certain amount in an effort to keep better track of municipal debt.