Housing authority to pay Latrobe police for extra coverage at apartments, townhouses
Latrobe police will begin extra patrols at Westmoreland County Housing Authority facilities in the city this week through an agreement with the authority.
Under the agreement, approved Monday by city council, the authority will tap grant funding to pay for the extra coverage at two high-rise buildings on Jefferson Street with apartments for older residents — Latrobe Manor and Loyalhanna Apartments — as well as townhouses intended for families on South Ligonier Street.
“It’s not that there’s been an increase in any incidents or any problems they’re having,” police Chief John Sleasman said. “It’s more of a deterrent than anything else.”
He said officers would “talk with the residents, get some feedback from them on any issues and try to resolve those issues. I think it’s a great opportunity for us and them.”
The agreement is slated to run through the end of the year, and the authority has requested 12 hours of extra coverage per week, but that could depend on how long the funding will last.
The authority has not indicated a maximum amount it could spend for the patrols, according to city manager Michael Gray. The authority would pay an overtime rate based on the salary of participating officers, which could range between about $50,000 and $70,000, he said.
Sleasman explained the extra duty will be offered first to the most senior officers, in accordance with their union contract.
With the new housing patrol agreement in place, the city will look into a similar agreement that might provide city police the ability to enforce a “no pets” policy at Legion Keener Park.
Responding to a question from a resident who attended Monday’s meeting virtually, Mayor Rosie Wolford explained that, because the park is privately owned, city police can only warn owners not to walk their dogs there.
Police can’t order people to remove their pets or cite them for the violation, but Wolford suggested discussing a possible enforcement agreement with the Latrobe-GLSD Parks and Recreation board, which operates and maintains the park. A city ordinance would be needed to prohibit dogs at the park.
Dogs are permitted at some other recreational sites in town, including a walking trail that parallels Lincoln Avenue.
Jeff Himler is a TribLive reporter covering Greater Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant Area and Derry Area school districts and their communities. He also reports on transportation issues. A journalist for more than three decades, he enjoys delving into local history. He can be reached at jhimler@triblive.com.
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