Aspinwall councilwoman irked at process for moving police training

Aspinwall police will split from tradition and begin firearm training at the city of Pittsburgh Academy along Washington Boulevard.

Council on Sept. 13 in a 5-1 vote approved moving the operations from North Park, where officers have trained for years with Allegheny County personnel.

Ann Pawlikowski was absent. Ann Marsico voted against it, saying she was outraged and felt the motion was being snuck through.

“Why was a backdoor approach used in developing this agreement?” Marsico said.

She said council was not made aware of the discussions between Police Chief David Caplan and the city until an ordinance needed to make the training move was drafted by borough Solicitor Steve Korbel this year.

“Employees of the borough report to council,” she said. “This was only brought to me when taxpayer money was needed (to pay the solicitor).”

Pawlikowski, who served as safety committee chairwoman until earlier this year, was not immediately able to be reached for comment.

Mayor Joe Giuffre, who oversees the police department, said the public safety committee was aware of the potential change in training from the onset of talks with the city.

Councilman Mark Ellermeyer said he was surprised that an ordinance was needed to change training sites.

“This is the kind of thing that I would expect the chief to do,” Ellermeyer said. “I wouldn't expect that a change in location would require an ordinance.”

There is no cost for the training at either location; police bring ammunition from the borough.

Caplan lobbied for the change because the Highland Park site is closer to the borough and would allow officers to train more regularly.

“The more we can enhance training, the better it is for all of us,” Caplan said. “Instead of a 40-minute drive taking them out of service, we can be there in five minutes.”

Marsico, said she doesn't necessarily have a problem with moving the training, but is upset in the process used for making the change.

“If this is so great, why wasn't it discussed with council?” she said. “Is there an underlying issue with us training at the city?

“Normally, things are brought to council for us to discuss and determine which direction to move in. That was not the case with this.”

Public safety committee Chairman Tim McLaughlin said that council was made aware of the issue early.

“We, as a council, discussed this many times,” he said.

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