Jeannette turns down offer from county to pay for patrols at housing complex

Jeannette police will not be doing extra patrols beyond their regular duties at Jeannette Manor after a city council majority rejected a proposed agreement with the Westmoreland County Housing Authority.

The housing authority had offered $20,000 that would be paid as overtime to city officers for their work doing the extra patrols. Council rejected it by a 4-1 vote. Mayor Curtis Antoniak cast the lone affirmative vote.

Housing authority executive director Michael Washowich said the proposal was spurred, in part, by resident requests for additional police coverage after reports of illegal activity there.

“We were very disappointed with that” decision, he said.

Police Chief Donald Johnston said he previously told officers to step up patrols at Jeannette Manor “when they’re not tied up on other incidents or investigations” during their normal shift. That was in response to what he said was an increase in incidents there, including drug overdoses. Some of that activity, but not all, has stopped.

Johnston said had council approved the agreement with the authority, he would have suggested two-hour stints before or after an officer’s regular shift that would not be mandatory.

“I left it entirely up to the officers in the department,” he said. “They were OK with doing the work.”

Antoniak said he was in favor of the proposal because it was a proactive measure that wouldn’t cost the city anything. The $20,000 would have provided funding for about 300 hours of work, he said.

Councilman Chuck Highlands said he opposed it because he thinks the housing authority should hire its own security or police.

“Our guys put in enough work, enough shifts,” Highlands said.

Security upgrades, including license plate readers, have been added at Jeannette Manor, Washowich said, and additional cameras are in the works. The housing authority has a similar agreement with police in Monessen to provide additional patrols at public housing there. Washowich said another one could be forthcoming with police in New Kensington and Arnold.