A lack of local police and two violent crimes are unsettling the residents of Verona

Diana Danko always thought her Second Street neighborhood in Verona was safe.

That was before two violent crimes occurred within hours of each other on April 14, a Sunday when no county police officers were on duty.

“This is very concerning,” said Danko, 55, who lives just blocks from the scene of the incidents. “I think this is a safe area, but that’s because there have always been police here.”

The crimes – a robbery near the popular Cribbs Field and an armed robbery in the 700 block of Maple Street – are unsettling residents and causing county officials to seek to hire more police officers.

Instead of county police, state police responded to the attack from their Coraopolis police station nearly 30 miles away, Verona County Chief Stefanie Woolford said.

Hours later there was an armed robbery. Doorbell video footage shows several people robbing a home on Maple Street and then driving away.

According to Allegheny County police, who have since taken over the investigation, local officials were not informed until the next day.

Neither state police nor Verona police commented on the incidents.

Woolford said the district is increasing its recruiting efforts and benefits package to bring in additional officers, with two in the pipeline.

“We are working on hiring two new full-time officers,” Woolford said. “And the police are on duty around the clock. It could be that it doesn’t come from Verona.”

Two additional full-time employees would allow the Verona Police Department to provide 24-hour coverage on its own, Woolford said.

The district currently has two full-time officers and three part-time officers. Police Chief Ron McLemore is recovering from an attack during a domestic violence call in November, leaving Sgt. Jerry Frankos as officer in charge.

Another full-time officer has returned from a non-work-related injury last year.

According to Councilwoman Trish Hredzak-Showalter, Verona is relying on the state police to address its staffing issues, although less than before.

“Since January we have had fewer and fewer shifts covered by State Police, but unfortunately they still exist,” Hredzak-Showalter said.

Verona has mutual aid agreements with Penn Hills and Oakmont police, but these only go into effect if a Verona officer is already on scene.

“That means when we call and ask for assistance, they will come as soon as our officers get there,” Woolford said.

Would a merger help?

District officials say their top priority is restoring around-the-clock coverage from Verona Police, although a merger with neighboring departments remains on the table.

The council hosted Gerald Simpson, a consultant with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, for a presentation on regional police departments in January.

On March 18, the district received the results of a free study from DCED examining the feasibility of a merged force. So far, district officials have refused to share the study’s results. The district is also undergoing an assessment of the state’s strategic management planning program, which includes a policing component.

Hredzak-Showalter noted that hiring more officers will reduce overtime costs and potentially allow for additional hiring. The district allocated nearly $675,000 — or about a third — of its $2.1 million budget to police this year.

Should Verona go down the path of regionalization, Danko said she worries that the district will be equally covered by the merged municipalities.

A few doors down on Second Street, Al Raimondi, 63, sees a merger as the best path forward.

“I am fully in favor of a joint police force,” said Raimondi. “(The police) are struggling with budgets.”

Pennsylvania has more than 35 regional police departments covering more than 125 communities, including the Southern Armstrong Regional Police Department, which covers Gilpin, Freeport and Ford City.

Officials from Kiski Township, Leechburg, West Leechburg and Parks Township have all considered some sort of merger in recent months.

Across the river, the Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department was created in 2019. It includes Cheswick, East Deer and Springdale Township. Officials at O’Hara and Blawnox hold weekly discussions to work out a merger there.

According to Hredzak-Showalter, regionalization for Verona would take at least a year.

In the meantime, Verona police are staggering their rosters to ensure there are no gaps in coverage at the same times or on the same days of the week, Hredzak-Showalter said.

She encouraged residents to rely on county police as the first line of defense despite the limited coverage.

“Phone calls continue to come in,” Hredzak-Showalter said. “And of course, lock your doors.”