Westmoreland County's housing authority pays Arnold $20K for officers to work overtime at its properties

With a goal of having a heavier police presence at two Arnold housing complexes, the Westmoreland County Housing Authority has pitched in to help pay police overtime costs.

Arnold Mayor Shannon Santucci said the housing authority allocates $20,000 annually to pay city officers to pick up overtime shifts at Arnold Towers and Arnold Manor, the latter of which garners many calls for city police.

“It’s another tool for (officers) to make extra money and not at the expense of the city,” Santucci said. “They’re doing a great job there, and the county is pleased as well.”

Mike Washowich, the housing authority’s executive director, said the organization has similar agreements with local police to cover its properties in New Kensington, Irwin, Latrobe, Trafford and Monessen.

“This provides additional foot patrols and develops relationships with residents, and deters criminal activity,” Washowich said. “It’s been well-received.”

Washowich said the overtime is available a few hours each week. It is funded through a grant program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Santucci said that while officers also patrol those areas during their regular shifts, the overtime patrols are an effort to alleviate additional calls there.

“They had been very adamant about having extra patrols in there,” Santucci said.

Arnold had been taking advantage of the cooperative agreement last year but stopped because of a lack of manpower, she said. It was reinstated in April when the department returned to full staff.

The housing authority had not had its own security there, she said, and city police were called there “regularly.”

“We have quite a few calls there, but most are minor,” she said. “Most are drug-related or neighbor-related.”

She said since the overtime patrols have started, the call volume at the properties has decreased.

Santucci said the housing authority has stepped up its efforts to make the properties safer. Those efforts include door alarms, providing police with information on who is permitted to be in the buildings and communicating needs between housing authority staff and police.

“I’ve talked to residents there, and they have seen a difference,” Santucci said, “so it’s been helpful.”

Residents of Arnold Manor have noticed the increased police presence there under the cooperative agreement.

Arnold Manor resident Salvatore Scotti said the increased patrols have improved conditions there.

“It was bad, but when the cops come, it’s nice,” he said.

Washowich said the agreements are a good example of community policing. Having a presence at the properties allows residents to build relationships with the officers and deter criminal activity.

“It’s good for the officers to have visibility,” he said.