Rush Township’s new police chief is a retired state trooper and a familiar face to many Schuylkill County residents.

The township supervisors voted to appoint Joseph E. Lipsett as full-time police chief at their meeting Tuesday night. They voted 2-0 with Jeaninne Motroni absent.Lipsett’s start date is Jan. 9. His salary will be set at $65,000.He will be the township’s only full-time officer.The supervisors have been running the department themselves since the former officer in charge left in July, chairman Shawn Gilbert said.Lipsett retired as a state trooper after 31 years on the job. Since that time he has held several elected and appointed positions at the Schuylkill County Courthouse.Lipsett was the elected coroner of Schuylkill County from 2007-2011. He has also been employed by the Schuylkill County district attorney’s office and domestic relations office.“He knows the area around here. He’s a county detective. He’s very well-known. A county coroner. He worked over at domestic relations. He has lots of qualifications and experience,” Gilbert said.Township resident Charlie Shamonsky asked the supervisors if there were any candidates among the department’s part-time officers.“We went through qualifications and resumes, and interviewed everybody, and we picked the best person for the township,” Gilbert said.The supervisors also reminded residents that they can sign up if they do not want solicitors coming to their homes.The township maintains a “do not solicit” list.A salesman who visits a home on the list would be cited for trespassing under the ordinance, township officials said.