East Deer could be joining the Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department in the near future.
The township commissioners voted 5-0 Friday afternoon to apply to the force, which now covers Cheswick and Springdale Township.
The department is operated by a board from the two municipalities. The board would have to approve East Deer’s application, and the two municipalities also would have to give their OK.
“This appears to be the best option for East Deer in maintaining 24-hour police protection,” said commissioners Chairman Tony Taliani. “We would also have equal representation on the board, and I feel this will be something other communities will be looking at in the future.”
Taliani said the model used by East Deer and similar small municipalities is not working anymore.
One reason is less people going into law enforcement. As an example, the commissioners Friday accepted the resignations of three part-time officers who obtained full-time jobs.
One is Oliver Jean-Gilles, who will start as a full-time officer in Moon Township on Monday. Sam Greco will be a full-time officer in Aspinwall and Justin Hixon accepted a position in a firm that specializes in background checks.
“All three are excellent officers who have done an excellent job for us,” Taliani said.
The Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department started on July 1, 2019. Consolidation has saved Cheswick and Springdale Township up to $500,000 per year, according to officials.
Taliani said if East Deer is accepted into the Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department, the township would save as much as $54,000 in 2022.
Timothy Basilone, recently-electd Springdale Township commissioner who will be sworn in Monday favors a collaborative approach by communities.
“I think this is great for the communities’ overall effectiveness,” he said. “I think this will serve the communities well while being cost-effective and that will lead to more robust police services.”
“We need to get out of the ‘every community has a separate service’ and to be more economical. The days of the PPGs and the Gulf Researches, and the Duquesne Lights are gone, and each community can’t support having separate services any longer.
“I commend East Deer for their level of diligence in researching this and to want to move forward.”
Calls to other Springdale Township and Cheswick officials Friday weren’t immediately returned.
