CRANBERRY TWP — With half of its full-time staff on medical leave in 2018, the Evans City-Seven Fields Regional Police Department was forced to rely on part-time officers to fill potential gaps in coverage.

That issue created a “messy” police budget, according to police administrator Tom Smith, although he said the department “survived the chaos.”

During a meeting of Seven Fields' council this week, Smith addressed the 2018 budget analysis for the department. He noted that Chief Joseph McCombs was on medical leave for about eight months to have both knees replaced. Additionally, a sergeant was off for roughly five months following shoulder surgery.

“It put quite a strain on the use of part-time patrol officers,” he said.

That reliance on part-time officers caused the line item for that expense to exceed the $154,593 budget. Smith said funds were taken from other line items.

“It was definitely not something you could plan for, but we definitely survived the chaos,” he said. “It was definitely financially a tough year, but again, we got through it. There's no way you could program a budget for unexpected medical issues.”

He said overall, there is still $92,000 in the capital reserve fund, which also serves as a rainy-day fund. He said that being able to tap into those funds when faced with absences allowed the department to proceed with coverage. He noted there were no lapses in coverage during those times of medical leave.

Smith added that once McCombs returned to work last summer, he often worked to cover shifts and ensure coverage was maintained.

On Thursday, Smith noted the challenge of 2018 confirmed for officials the need for full-time officers.

“You have that steadiness and that rotation,” he said.

Smith said the department recently saw a full-time officer depart, but is in the process of replacing that person and hiring an additional officer, bringing the total to five. He said the police commission will meet later this month to discuss those hires.