Whitaker adds 5 part-time officers to roster
Whitaker officials added some much-needed manpower to their police force.
Council unanimously hired five part-time officers on Wednesday.
Mayor David Sabol said he had an opportunity to talk to the new officers, and said they'll benefit the borough.
Doug Chuba, William Reed, Kyle Sneddon, Michael Adams and Sean Sluganski were hired as probationary patrolmen contingent upon background checks and other paperwork.
Sneddon is from Fayette County. The others are from the Pittsburgh area. Sneddon and Reed have police experience in other municipalities, while Chuba, Adams and Sluganski recently graduated from the police academy.
“The two that are police officers right now, the only thing they'll have to learn is the streets,” Councilman Richard Lassige said. “Everything else they already know. They'll have to learn the new computer system we have. They should know that within the first week.”
The new hires bring the department to 14 part-time officers including police Chief John Vargo.
“They're not giving them to me,” Vargo said of the new hires. “They're giving them to the borough. If you want a police department you got to have it staffed.”
Vargo said he has enough officers to cover all shifts, and hopefully will be able to cut down on overtime.
“If everybody works like we want them to work that should be pretty much enough,” Vargo said. “It's going to take a while to get (the) three (rookies) on the street. There's been a lot of overtime spent, which of course hurts the budget. That's what happens when you don't have enough manpower.”
Lassige said there were six applicants, but the borough only was going to hire five officers. He said council constantly needs to be aware of turnover in a part-time police department.
“If these guys don't give you a warning when they're going to leave and they leave, you're in a bind off the bat,” Lassige said. “You can't blame them for looking ahead for their future making more money. Full-timers make a lot more money. You can't hold them back.”
In other matters, council unanimously:
• Accepted a $1,052 estimate from West Mifflin Collision for detailing and paint touch-up of the Dodge police vehicle.
• Authorized borough secretary Jean Warren to advertise for public works employees.
• Authorized a $200 donation to Whitaker Community Cares toward the cost of a petting zoo for Community Day.
• Having public works post temporary “no dogs allowed” signs at Whitaker Ball Field and surrounding areas for Community Day festivities.
• Adopted a motor vehicle license review policy requiring annual online inspection of drivers' licenses of all borough employees as required by Penn Prime Insurance, the borough's workers compensation provider.
Community Day is June 21 from noon to 10 p.m. at Whitaker Ball Field.
Allegheny County Vacant Property Recovery Program is offering reduced fees on side yard lots. Anyone interested in participating in the program can contact Warren at 412-462-4256 for an application.
Michael DiVittorio is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-664-9161, ext. 1965, or mdivittorio@tribweb.com.
