Despite reservations, borough joins regional police force feasibility study

Aspinwall council voted to sign a letter of intent to study the feasibility of joining three surrounding police departments into a regional force.

Blawnox, O’Hara and Sharpsburg already have signed the letter of intent. Some Aspinwall officials and residents on May 2 expressed reservations about joining the study, and the borough police chief said he is against it.

Council member Lara Voytko cast the lone vote against joining the study. She said she is concerned with how a regional police force would be funded and if representation would go by population.

“I’ve been speaking with constituents and haven’t found a lot of support,” she said.

Councilman David Brown that said while he shared their concerns, he said he believes it was important Aspinwall study the issue.

He pointed out that Aspinwall is the last of the four municipalities to join the study. Two other communities invited to join the study, Fox Chapel and Indiana, have opted out.

Aspinwall police Chief David Nemec said that in his 20 years with the borough, merging local police forces has come up twice before.

“It’s all just talk,” he said. “But just listening doesn’t hurt. It would have to benefit Aspinwall.”

Chief Nemec, along with Council President Tim McLaughlin, said it would take years for a regionalized force to be formed, even if all parties agree to it.

First there will be a study conducted by the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services in Harrisburg. This could take six months, according to Mr. Brown. Next, there will be time for residents to voice their opinions and deeper discussions among area elected officials.

If the plan was approved, ordinances and other legal changes would have to be in place before regionalization could become official.