Aliquippa police turmoil
The community must consider the force’s future
When people don’t trust their police force, it’s time for a community to take stock. That’s the state of affairs in Aliquippa, where longtime fears about corruption in the police department exploded anew after the May 13 murder of 33-year-old teacher Rachael DelTondo. A television-worthy series of plot twists shows why residents have cause for concern:
A letter recovered from a jail inmate alleges an officer killed Ms. DelTondo. A man questioned about the murder won’t cooperate fully with police — he doesn’t trust them after an officer took a bribe and gave false testimony in a previous case involving his uncle.
Assistant Chief Joseph Perciavalle III was placed on leave for sending a sexually explicit video to a colleague’s daughter, who was one of the last people to see Ms. DelTondo alive. He’s also been charged with illegally recording a phone conversation with police Chief Donald Couch, himself put on leave for reasons that aren’t related to the DelTondo case but otherwisehaven’t been explained.
On top of all that, a grand jury is investigating theft and who knows what else at the borough.
Acting Chief Robert Sealock, promoted from captain to run the department after the sidelining of Chief Couch and Assistant Chief Perciavalle, has handled a difficult situation with class. He removed the department from the DelTondo case, allowing other investigators to take over entirely, and he’s been forthright about the department’s challenges.
But it’s time the people and elected officials of Aliquippa had a serious conversation about the future of policing there.
Aliquippa, which has 12 officers to cover a 4.6-square-mile area with about 9,000 residents, is one of many small Pennsylvania communities with no business running its own police force. Another, about 37 miles to the southeast, is East Pittsburgh, thrust into the spotlight in June after one of its nine officers fatally shot 17year-old Antwon Rose II after a traffic stop.
Both municipalities should work with neighboring communities to create regional police departments that are larger, more professional and more trustworthy than the current controversy-plagued fiefdoms. The Legislature needs to incentivize mergers and create uniform training and operations standards.
Until then, district attorneys should keep a close eye on small departments.
In October, Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. plans to open a warrant office in McKeesport to help officers from 30 Mon Valley departments put together stronger cases. His Beaver County counterpart, David J. Lozier, should consider something similar for the Aliquippa area, where his office’s presence could build public trust as well as better cases.
In its current broken state, Aliquippa’s police department is nothing but a hindrance. The struggling steel town will never get ahead — will never attract newcomers or development — when residents harbor fear and doubt about those who are supposed to be the community’s finest.