EVANS CITY — Residents of the two boroughs in a planned police merger will have the protection of an additional full-time officer next year.

Evans City and Seven Fields have announced they will hire a full-time police officer, whose employment will begin when the two boroughs’ police departments merge into one at midnight on Dec. 31.

Evans City Police Chief Joe McCombs said on Monday that the job request, along with the description of requirements and duties, is available on both boroughs’ websites.

McCombs said the position will add an officer to the force, making three full-time officers. He said the police commission with representatives from both boroughs has not yet settled on how many part-time officers the new department will have.

The Evans City Police Department has two full-time and seven part-time officers. He said none of the part-time officers will lose his job as a result of the merger.

Seven Fields is currently patrolled by the Cranberry Township Police Department. The borough’s contract with Cranberry expires at the end of this year.

McCombs said the commission has been meeting regularly for about 18 months regarding the details of the merger.

“Our focus right now is to get that full-time position ready to go,” McCombs said.

The commission has not yet released the name of the new department because it wants to avoid using the two boroughs’ names if another police force wishes to join in the future.

The tentative name considered by the commission in December was The Southwestern Butler County Regional Police Department.

Seven Fields will pay 53 percent of the cost of the department while Evans City will pay 47 percent. The proposed budget for the department’s first year is nearly $500,000.

The boroughs’ websites are www.evanscity.us or www.sevenfields.org.