Proposal would merge police units in Allegheny County

There are savings to be gained by consolidating the Allegheny County and Port Authority of Allegheny County police forces, according to a county councilman.

A proposed ordinance that Republican Councilman-at-large Edward Kress sponsored to combine the police departments will be introduced at Tuesday's council meeting.

"If there's any way to save money, let's try to merge the two departments together," said Kress of Shaler, who said that consolidation might improve efficiencies.

Kress also has been seeking an audit of the Port Authority police.

County police provide protection at regional parks, Pittsburgh International Airport and Allegheny County Airport in West Mifflin.

Council President Jim Burn, D-Millvale, said he would not speculate about whether the proposal has any chance of passing.

"I look forward to hearing what Mr. Kress has to say and the bill will be given its due diligence," he said on Friday.

The Port Authority police department has 44 officers and 12 security guards, according to its website. The county police department has about 200 officers, according to Detective Richard Usner, president of the Allegheny County Police Association.

"As an association, we are receptive to it. We feel that there could possibly be a cost savings to ... merging, obviously," he said.

Port Authority spokeswoman Heather Pharo said the agency would "cooperate fully with any audit of our police department. As an agency, we are always open to discussing ideas that could improve our services."

Joseph DelSole, president of the Port Authority Transit Police Association, said the latest proposal was news to him, but it was not the first time the force had been included in consolidation talks.

In December 2006, seven County Council members co-sponsored an ordinance to consolidate the Allegheny County, Port Authority and Allegheny County Housing Authority police departments. The matter was referred to the Special Committee on Government Reform, where it languished until expiring in January 2008.

"I think if (consolidation) was done the right way, it could be beneficial for everybody. We're more than happy to participate in this process," DelSole said.