Zappala threatens to keep Kennywood from opening if it doesn't comply with security demands

Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. said Friday he will go to court to keep Kennywood Park from opening for the season if it does not comply with his office’s list of security demands.

At a news conference in McCandless, Zappala said the iconic West Mifflin amusement park is unsafe and has been uncooperative with his office following a Sept. 24 shooting at the park that wounded three people. No one is charged in connection with the incident.

After the shooting, Zappala’s office conducted a security review of the park and, in November, sent Kennywood a lengthy list of security measures it requested the park to implement.

“You will do these. It’s not negotiable,” Zappala said at the news conference.

Kennywood spokeswoman Tasha Pokrzywa said the park has enhanced security measures since the shooting and has been fully cooperative with law enforcement.

“We are not going to engage in any political controversy,” she said.

Pokrzywa would not respond specifically to the allegations made by Zappala, but said Kennywood’s first priority is ensuring the safety of its visitors and staff.

“We are fully focused on security and continuously implement new safety measures,” she said.

During Friday’s news conference, Zappala displayed an internal Allegheny County Police memo dated Nov. 30 listing security upgrades that had been made by that time, including doubling the number of officers assigned to work there, removing trees along a fence line that impeded security cameras and installing high-intensity security lighting and new cameras.

At that point, the memo said, several additional measures were listed as being in development, including the installation of exterior fencing with anti-climbing features, the implementation of a new evacuation and emergency alert notification system and a corporate-level risk assessment.

The memo said Kennywood General Manager Mark Pauls “has been proactive and supportive in accelerating some of the measures that have been completed.”

But on Friday, Zappala said the park was not being cooperative.

Zappala said Kennywood was unresponsive to a request from his office earlier this month to enter the park and review security. He said his office had to obtain a search warrant to get in.

“I’m a little disappointed in the response from Kennywood,” Zappala said. “I want to work with these people, but (if they don’t cooperate) I am prepared to go to court.”

After obtaining the warrant, Zappala said, officers visited the park March 18 and used a drone to record video from above it. Officers discovered a gap between fence gates that was large enough for a slim person to fit through and to pass weapons through.

Zappala said he did not know how the guns used in the September shooting got into the park.

“My family, your families, all these little kids that are there on a regular basis — they’re there to have fun,” Zappala said. “They’re not here to be the innocent victims of a firefight.”

Zappala referenced his office’s work involving shutting down nuisance bars and unsafe housing complexes.

“I would hate to see the opening of Kennywood be delayed. I’m very serious, and law enforcement is very serious, about making that environment safe,” he said.

Kennywood stories:

• Kennywood shooting puts spotlight on park security, metal detectors
• Fight between juveniles led to shootings inside Kennywood Park
• 'It happened so quick,' Kennywood shooting victim says

State Rep. Nick Pisciottano, D-Dravosburg, said he has seen firsthand the security upgrades Kennywood has implemented since the shooting.

“Like many others in our region, I look forward to enjoying Kennywood Park this summer with my family in a safe environment based on the security improvements instituted since last September,” he said.

Pisciottano took umbrage at Zappala’s threat to Kennywood.

“Staging a press conference threatening a major economic driver for the Mon Valley less than a month ahead of its 125th anniversary opening day is not responsible treatment of a regional historic treasure and national tourist destination in Allegheny County,” Pisciottano said.

“I encourage the district attorney to make clear what his specific concerns are, what recommendations are not being met and actively participate in ongoing discussions in the community so that families across Pennsylvania can safely enjoy Kennywood Park this season,” he added.

Kennywood’s opening weekend is scheduled for April 22-23.

Zappala called the news conference Friday to discuss a trend in the county where people are illegally using small plastic or metal devices to convert semiautomatic handguns into automatic weapons.

Such a converter was used on one of the weapons fired in the Kennywood shooting, Zappala said. Since, Allegheny County has had seven additional cases where officers recovered a converted, fully automatic weapon, the DA said. A similar converter also was used on one of the guns used by the man accused of killing Brackenridge police Chief Justin McIntire in January, Zappala said.

Under Pennsylvania law, possession of a converter is considered a misdemeanor crime. Zappala said his office will refer those cases to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecution, where under federal law they are felonies that call for lengthy prison terms.

“We hope to deter future conduct,” Zappala said.