Allegheny Valley Regional Police to expand; hiring new full-timer

Allegheny Valley Regional Police is adding a full-time officer to fledgling force, that already has two full-time and about six part-time officers.

The regional police force was formed last year when the police departments of Cheswick and Springdale Township merged to provide 24-7 coverage in both while saving money.

Support for the extra officer was overwhelming as Cheswick Council, the Springdale Township commissioners and the regional police board unanimously approved the addition.

The new officer should be hired within next two months, officials said.

“We want another full-time officer dedicated to us,” said Tim Sweet, a Springdale Township commissioner who is president of the Allegheny Valley Regional police board.

“Part-timers aren’t making that much money and get second and third jobs,” he said.

The pool of part-time police officers is shrinking and the regional force wants to maintain a certain level of coverage, said Michael Girardi, a Cheswick councilman on the regional police force’s board.

Officials didn’t have an exact salary available, but the combination of salary and benefits for the new officer will be less than $50,000, Girardi said.

The addition will be “budget neutral,” Girardi and Sweet said: The additional officer will eliminate the expense for overtime pay and less reliance on the force’s current part-time officers.

“The budget can absorb the cost,” Girardi said.

Marking its one-year anniversary this month, the regional police force is fulfilling its potential to save money while providing round-the-clock coverage in both communities, Girardi said.

The regional police force’s annual budget is about $466,000, Girardi said. Cheswick is saving about $80,000 on its police expense and Springdale Township is saving about $120,000 annually, he said.