Arnold's 1st female mayor demotes city's 1st female police chief

Arnold's first female mayor on Monday demoted the city's first female police chief.

Karen Peconi Biricocchi appointed Patrolman Eric Doutt police chief as one of her first actions as the city's new mayor.

“Eric is a good officer,” Peconi said. “He is very informed about what's going on out there. He has an uncanny ability to get things done.”

The move demotes Shannon Santucci-Davis back to sergeant — for now.

After consulting with attorneys, Peconi said she has concerns about whether Santucci-Davis, 52, was properly promoted from patrolwoman to sergeant after the state's civil service rules changed in 2014 to require a test for promotions.

Peconi said no test was administered and she's uncertain whether Santucci-Davis can hold the rank of sergeant. If not, Peconi said Santucci-Davis could be further demoted to patrolwoman until she takes and passes the civil service test for promotions.

Councilman Phil McKinley, who unsuccessfully challenged Peconi for mayor and campaigned on keeping Santucci-Davis as chief, argued council did not adopt the changes to the civil service commission until after Santucci-Davis' promotion. He felt the changes should not apply to her rank.

Peconi believes the timing of the state law trumps when the city adopted the changes.

Since council fired former solicitor John Pallone in November and has not yet replaced him, council did not have an attorney present Monday to offer legal advice.

Santucci-Davis was not at Monday's council meeting and did not respond to a request for comment afterward.

Peconi praised Santucci-Davis' ability to engage with the community, especially the youth. Santucci-Davis organized many community functions during and prior to her role as chief.

“She's done a great job stepping in and keeping the department together,” Peconi said. “She's an asset to our police force.

“Shannon's a good person — she has the community at heart,” Peconi added. “I wish I could have two chiefs of police.”

Doutt said he hoped Santucci-Davis would be a large part of his goal to reinvigorate community-oriented policing.

“She is loved by many in the community,” he said. “I'm going to need her help. We are only as good as the guys we've got working here.”

Doutt said his short-term goals include upgrading laptops in the police cars and technology in the police station, and to re-establish a K-9 program.

That will filter into his overall aim of having a “very aggressive approach to combat narcotics. That's the foundation of all the other crimes.”

In choosing Doutt, Peconi referenced his past experience as chief and his success in finding grants.

Doutt, 47, who also is a member of the New Kensington-Arnold School Board, previously served as the department's chief for about 2½ years, replacing his uncle, Joe Doutt, in 2009.

Eric Doutt was demoted to detective sergeant in 2012 when Larry Milito was elected mayor and Willie Weber was named chief. Doutt was further demoted to patrolman later that year when he was arrested during a domestic dispute.

When Weber retired in June, Milito appointed Santucci-Davis chief.

Peconi noted Doutt has served both as a K-9 officer and with the now-defunct Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program. He's worked for Arnold's department since 1990.

“He has the experience. That's what we need,” Peconi said. “He's very resourceful. He's very approachable. We work well together.”

As chief, Doutt will make about $73,000 per year. The city pays its police chief $5,000 more than the highest paid officer, which was estimated Monday at $68,000.

Peconi was especially hopeful that Doutt would be successful in finding funding sources to buy supplies and pay for training for the nine-member department, which includes her son, Patrolman Wes Biricocchi.

“I want to focus on their safety — getting them home at night in one piece,” Peconi said.

“We have to put people in (positions) with what they're good at,” Peconi said. “I think we're off to a good start.”

Liz Hayes is a Tribune-Review staff writer. She can be reached at 724-226-4680 or lhayes@tribweb.com.