Veteran Greensburg detective Vernail to retire

One member of the Greensburg Police Department will retire as a new face joins the force later this month.

Longtime detective Jerry Vernail will step down June 26, city officials announced at Monday's council meeting.

Vernail has played a role in many major city investigations throughout the years, including the arrest of the “Greensburg Six,” who were convicted of torturing and killing a mentally handicapped woman in 2010.

At the same meeting, Mayor Ron Silvis swore in the police department's newest officer.

Justin Adams will join the force as a patrolman June 22. He works as a part-time police officer for the Pitcairn Police Department.

There was a second addition to the city's police force Monday, albeit a four-legged one. Officer Justin Scalzo's German shepherd Falco will be the department's newest K-9 member. Scalzo was a K-9 officer at his last job with the Jeannette Police Department, and Falco is a trained police dog. Jeannette retired Falco, giving the dog to Scalzo when he moved to Greensburg last year.

Falco joins Dax, the city's existing K-9.

Another retirement of a longtime city employee has led to the merger of two departments. Les Harvey is stepping down after 37 years as the city's building code official.

The search has begun for his replacement, but council members voted Monday to merge the city's building code and fire administration office with the planning and zoning office.

The merger will operate on a six-month trial period before being made permanent.

“I think it can work, but the only way to do it is to try it out and see how it goes,” Harvey said.

Councilman Jonathan P. Vesely suggested combining the two departments, saying they both serve property owners and would be more efficient if combined.

Councilwoman Kathleen McCormick was the sole vote against the merger.

“I still would like to have both departments be separate, and have their own management,” she said.

Planning Director Barb Ciampini will run the single office. The new building code official will work for her. Harvey will remain on the payroll part time as the city's emergency management director. He will earn $5,000 a year and retain his use of a city vehicle.

“I'm not totally dropping off the face of the earth,” he said.

In other business, council will vote next month on whether to remove the city ordinance pertaining to bicycles.

The code requires those who ride a bicycle within the city to have a license and a metal license plate. It was adopted in 1941, amended in 1963 and has not been enforced for many years, City Administrator Sue Trout said.

Jacob Tierney is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-836-6646 or jtierney@tribweb.com.