Irwin chief emphasizing community policing; add part-time officer

Irwin police have been taking steps to get out of their patrol cars and mingle with residents and will continue to emphasize community policing, the chief said Wednesday.

“The community is noticing” those efforts, Chief Dan Wensel told Mayor William Hawley and borough council.

When Wensel was promoted to chief in October, he said he would emphasize community policing. Wensel took over as the leader of the police department after being named acting chief when former chief Roger Pivirotto resigned last August.

Wensel said he will have his officers conduct foot patrols in Irwin’s parks and meet people there, too, not just patrol in their vehicle.

The chief said he plans to extend the foot patrols to the neighborhoods, where officers will get to meet more residents.

The police department has some advantage in conducting community policing initiatives because the borough is only 1 square-mile and has a population of slightly less than 4,000.

There will be more police officers to be involved in the community policing efforts because the borough on Wednesday added to the police force by hiring Thomas E. Carnahan, 27, of Hempfield, as a part-time police officer. He will be paid $22.88 an hour and be eligible for part-time benefits.

Carnahan, who is a part-time police officer in South Greensburg, said he will resign his position as a Westmoreland County deputy sheriff.

With Carnahan’s hiring, Wensel said the department has four part-time officers, in addition to the five full-time officers.