Officer Gaertner was hired on August 24th, 1990, by the Ross Township Police Department. He is currently assigned to the uniformed patrol division on the third shift, an assignment that he has held since 1998.
During his tenure with Ross Township, Officer Gaertner has held numerous collateral duties:
He has performed his duties as a Motorcycle Officer in the Traffic Division, conducting on scene accident investigations and traffic enforcement throughout the township.
He obtained his teaching certification for the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program. This certification included core curriculum, Junior High and Senior Levels. This certification enabled Officer Gaertner to teach in the fourteen schools of the North Hills School district at all levels. Additionally, Officer Gaertner worked as an advisor to the A.W. Beattie Technical School for the Public Safety program.
He was assigned as an F.T.O. (Field Training Officer) for the department, responsible for the training of newly hired officers, ensuring their ability to perform their duties as Police Officers as well as ensuring compliance with department and township standards.
He is one of the department’s continuing education instructors qualified to teach: Use of Force Continuum, Firearms, Defensive Tactics, Pressure Point Control Techniques, Aerosol Projectiles, PR-24, ASP, Straight Police Baton and general patrol studies. He maintains his M.P.O.E.T.C. instructor certification, enabling him to teach new recruits at the Allegheny County Police Academy.
Prior to being hired by Ross Township, Officer Gaertner was a police officer for the city of Key West, Florida. He worked in the Uniform Patrol Division from 1987 – 1990. Acquiring invaluable experience, which has been the foundation of his on-going success in Law Enforcement.
Prior to the beginning of his civilian law enforcement career, Officer Gaertner served in the United States Navy. During his active duty, he served aboard the USS Enterprise (CVN-65), Washington D.C. and Naval Air Station, Key West. Although he ended his enlistment after six years, Officer Gaertner returned to the Naval Reserves in 1992. He presently holds the distinction as the only Ross Township Police Officer called up to Active Duty after 9-11 and presently serving in the United States Naval Reserve.
MA1 Robert F. Gaertner was promoted to the rank of Master At Arms Chief Petty Officer on September 20, 2003. Chief Gaertner was one of seven Petty Officers selected to this prestigious position. Chief Gaertner presently drills at the Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Center in North Versailles. Since his promotion, he has been transfered into the Fleet Hospital Unit, headquartered out of Fort Dix New Jersey.