CRANBERRY TWP — The township supervisors Thursday night hired a new police officer, who will fill one of two vacancies left when two officers were fired in December.

Ryan Slack, who was approved Thursday, must go through medical and psychological evaluations and drug screening before he can become a probationary officer, said township manager Jerry Andree.

All new officers are under probation for one year.

The screening process should take a couple weeks, Andree said.

Officials are interviewing candidates for one more hire, which would take the department up to 28 officers, the most it is permitted to have under this year’s budget, Andree said.

The township is using candidates from an eligibility list it compiled last year when it hired two new officers.

In December, the township terminated probationary officer Scott Carney and officer Michael Pszenny, and it gave three-day suspensions to three other officers. It also had Cpl. Frank Evanson retire that month.

Reasons for the discipline were not released by township officials.