Beyond the badge with Aspinwall officer Leann Heffley

Aspinwall Police Officer Leann Heffley is a petite woman with a big love of law enforcement.

She is the sole female law enforcement officer on the force and works mostly nighttime shifts in the historic borough.

“Having a female officer is truly an asset to our department when having to speak to another female, maybe with a personal issue, that might not be comfortable opening up to a male officer,” said Aspinwall police Chief David Nemec.

Heffley first joined the Aspinwall department as a part-time officer in 2018 and was hired full-time in 2021.

Nemec said he’s never received a complaint about Heffley.

“We take pride in choosing the right officer for our community. In Officer Heffley, we found that,” said Nemec, adding that Heffley is known for her meticulous nature.

“She makes sure the tasks given are done right the first time,” Nemec said.

Heffley was awarded the Amen Corner Award for police excellence in 2024. She resides in the South Hills and grew up in Bellevue, living there for 27 years.

She graduated from Northgate High School in 2009, earned an associate’s degree in criminal justice from the Community College of Allegheny County and then transferred to LaRoche University, here she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

“And after that, I went straight to the Allegheny County Police Academy,” Heffley said. “I think it was when I earned my criminal justice courses, I got interested in law enforcement. A lot of relatives are in the Army, but that didn’t seem like the correct path for me. I found criminal justice interesting.”

Police training included six months of training that included some not-so-nice moments.

“The hardest part was cramming all of that knowledge in and getting pepper-sprayed,” Heffley said. “You have to know what it feels like. It was like somebody set my face on fire.”

Heffley’s mother, Leanore Heffley of Bellevue recalled the day her only daughter was sworn in as a police officer.

“I thought, ‘Does she want me to have gray hair?’ ” Leanore said of her initial reaction to hearing Leann’s choice of profession. “She’s an adult and made her own decision. I told her to really think about this because it’s a very dangerous job.”

Heffley previously worked in Stowe Township and for the Allegheny County Housing Authority before being hired in Aspinwall.

Leanore said she doesn’t worry too much about her daughter’s profession, because she is patrolling about 1 square mile of community in close-knit Aspinwall.

“She’s so responsible and taking on this job, do well on it and I like her being in Aspinwall because of a quieter and smaller community. Everyone she works with is just fantastic,” said Leanore.

Heffley, 34, has taser, a gun, pepper spray, a baton and wears a bullet proof vest during each shift.

“I think in this job if you’re not afraid, it’s time to quit,” Heffley said.

She just finished paying off her student loans and is considering earning her master’s degree in psychology.

She noted her background in psychology has proved useful as an officer.

“Communication really comes into play. It’s a skill. De-escalation is a huge part of what we do,” she said.

The perk of police work is experiencing a community coming together in adversity.

“The recent storm for example — it’s really nice to see everyone help each other — because you guys aren’t gonna call on us on your best day,” Heffley said.

Since no patrol day is the same, Heffley said she has to be adaptable and ready for anything.

One work perk turned out to be of the fluffy variety.

Heffley has two cats, Pickles and Pibb, and Pibb was rescued by Heffley while she was on patrol.

“He was just this teeny, tiny thing,” she said.

Joyce Hanz | TRIBLIVE

Aspinwall Police Officer Leann Heffley photographed in the police station on May 1.

Promoting more awareness and conversations surrounding domestic violence and mental health are two causes that are important to Heffley.

“It’s not just women, men are affected by it too and it’s a little bit more difficult for us to appeal to the fact that it can happen to anybody,” Heffley said. “It happens anywhere.”

Heffley was recognized for helping to save a man’s life in O’Hara in 2022.

She received a proclamation from borough officials on May 4, 2022, after responding to a violent psychiatric call on April 25 of that same year.

To date, Heffley hasn’t had to shoot anybody.

“I have had to draw my weapon, yes,” Heffley said.

Some of her funnier calls have involved a report of a black bear roaming around Guyasuta Lane.

“I did have to get a bird out of a house on Virginia Avenue. You never know what your calls are going to be,” Heffley said.

Heffley said her motto involves her advice to other women.

“No is a complete sentence,” she said. “I think it’s really important for young women to learn that.”

During patrols, Heffley enjoys studying the architecture along the 300 block of First Street and the house at the corner of 2nd and Lexington.

And when she’s out of uniform, you’ll find her reading.

“I’m a big reader and eater. My favorite food is my mom’s spaghetti,” she said.