Aspinwall adds 2 part-time officers to police force

Aspinwall on Wednesday night hired two part-time police officers, both of whom have worked with local departments and said they are eager to join the borough to focus on community-oriented policing.

Jason Blank and Keith Lazaron were sworn in by Mayor Joe Noro during council’s regular meeting.

Blank, from Shaler, currently works as a part-time officer with Indiana Township. Lazaron, a Boston native, served eight years as a military police officer and is a retired Corporal with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He is familiar with Aspinwall after having worked nearby at the H.J. Heinz campus of the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System in O’Hara.

The pair’s hiring brings the borough’s supplemental force to five. There are five full-time officers as well.

Acting Chief Dave Nemec said the two men appear to be a perfect fit for the neighborhood.

“We’re very picky about who we hire,” Nemec said. “They both stood out for the fact that they are focused on the community aspect.”

Tawnya Panizzi is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tawnya at 412-782-2121, ext. 2, tpanizzi@tribweb.com or via Twitter @tawnyatrib.