CRANBERRY TWP — When Jeff Schueler was hired by the township more than 36 years ago, the police department had eight officers and the township had fewer than 8,000 residents.

A lot has changed since then, but Schueler, who is retiring this week, has been one of the constants.

Schueler was a police officer in the township for about 27 years and since 2007 he has been the director of public safety, overseeing the township police, township fire department, township EMS and emergency management.

“It’s been an excellent place to work; I’ve always been treated well,” he said.

Originally from West View, Allegheny County, Schueler served in the Marine Corps, where he spent time as a military police officer stationed in Hawaii. He was one of two officers added to the township department in 1980 when it expanded from six to eight uniformed officers. Today it has 26, and it will increase to 32 in a couple years.

No community is without crime, but the people of Cranberry have always had a good rapport with the police, Schueler said.

“We’ve seen a lot of issues with policing across the country and when we were going though a lot of this turmoil, the police department was flooded with cards, cookies and cakes. It was tear jerking to see the response the police here got from the community,” he said.

Police Chief Kevin Meyer said that he joined the department in 1996 and Schueler, who was a corporal at the time, trained him.

“He took me under his wing and showed me the ropes. The two of us have watched the community grow and the department grow to what it is today,” he said.

Meyer replaced Schueler in 2007 as the department’s lieutenant in charge of day-to-day operations.

The department had not had a chief since the 1990s, but Meyer was appointed chief in 2015. It was mostly just a change in title, but officials thought it would help let the community and other officials know who was in charge of the department, he said.

“Jeff was instrumental in seeing that change was made. He saw the benefit of having that title,” he said.

Meyer also credited Schueler in overseeing a number of technology upgrades including car cameras, new computers and new record-keeping systems.

The growth of the township has created challenges for fire and EMS services, which respond to a staggering number of calls. The fire department now goes to more than 700 calls per year, many of which are minor accidents or automatic fire alarms.

Schueler earlier this year worked with fire company officials on a comprehensive plan, which made recommendations for the future of the department including adding a new employee and looking into options for bunking. Schueler also oversaw construction of a new EMS building on Route 19 next door to the fire station. The EMS building was finished in 2013

When it comes to being prepared for traffic backups, Schueler has been a leader in the township and the region, said Jerry Andree, township manager.

“Jeff always put the needs of the community before his own personal needs. I called him our ‘go-to guy.’ He built great relationships with all the people in the public safety sector,” Andree said.

Because Schueler and other officials got the township involved with Traffic Incident Management Systems, a federal technical guidance and training program, it has been prepared for any type of emergency. One example of minimizing a potential crisis came in 2014, when downed power lines on Route 228 forced the road to close and thousands of cars to seek alternate routes, Andree said.

Township officials Nov. 3 surprised Schueler with a cake and a reception attended by members of the township EMS, fire company and police.

Officers of the fire company presented Schueler with a leather helmet signed by volunteer members and a plaque commemorating his service will be placed on a new bench at the Route 19 fire station.

He also was recognized at the township supervisors’ meeting that night.

“Many come and work for the township, but few come and work and make a lasting impression and contribution like Jeff Schueler,” supervisor chairman Dick Hadley said.

Schueler lives in the township with his wife and says they have no plans to move.

The township has yet to name a new director of public safety, but has been conducting multiple rounds of interviews with candidates.

Schueler also said he will remain involved with the fire department in the future to help them implement some of the recommendations outlined on its comprehensive plan.