Southwest Mercer County Regional Police Commission promoted three policemen Tuesday and picked a new man to be posted in Farrell Area School District.

Cpl. Andrew Thomas was promoted to sergeant, and patrolmen Charles Rubano and Edward Lisac Jr. were upped to corporals.

Sgt. Dan Oster was named conflict resolution specialist in the school district, replacing Riley Smoot Jr., who took over as police chief Jan. 6.

Smoot remains as Drug Abuse Resistance Education officer at the school.

Thomas replaces Oster as a patrol sergeant. Thomas, a former West Middlesex policeman, started with Southwest in September 1993 when West Middlesex joined the regional department. He was named a corporal in September 1999. He will be paid $37,735.

Lisac, who replaces Thomas, started on the part-time force in November 1998 and was promoted to full-time status in September 1999. He will be paid $34,190.

Rubano, who fills a newly created corporal position, started as a part-time patrolman with Southwest in January 1996. He was made a full-timer in December 1999. He will be paid $35,705.

The department will not hire a new patrolman to replace Rubano, said commission Chairman James DeCapua.

Oster, who will begin his new job Tuesday, has undergone school safety training and will be sent for classes in conflict resolution and peer mediation, Smoot said.

Oster also will be trained in writing requests for grants, with those skills to be used for the benefit of the school district and the police department, Smoot said.

Oster's work at the school is paid by a grant, while he works regular police duties when school is not in session.