North Huntingdon hires police officers, dispatcher
North Huntingdon has hired two police officers and two dispatchers.
The commissioners on Aug. 21 hired Ethan Fagnelli and Brendan Duffy as police officers, pending their successful completion of a physical, psychological, drug screening and a credit check.
The township also hired Alyssa Campbell as a telecommunications officer, also pending the successful completion of a physical, psychological, drug screening and a credit check.
In another police-related matter, the township approved buying 21 semi-automatic rifles for $19,808, from Witmer Public Safety Group Inc. of Coatesville.
The township is buying the rifles through the state’s cooperative purchasing program and trading its old ones, said Lt. Jay McCurdy.
Irwin church to hold spaghetti dinner
The First United Church of Christ at 400 Main St., Irwin, will hold a spaghetti dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 12.
The meal will cost $10 for adults and $5 for children.
Parks to get security cameras
North Huntingdon’s two biggers parks — Indian Lake and Oak Hollow— will each be getting eight security cameras, as a result of an $85,936 grant through the state’s local share account of gambling revenue.
The planned purchase of cameras comes after the township received complaints about criminal activity at the parks, said Harry Faulk, township manager. The cameras will help people feel safe at the parks.
The commissioners approved the allocation on Aug. 21, despite complaints from Commissioner Rich Gray that that he believes the cameras result in an increase in surveillance of the public.
Commissioner Ronald Zona, a retired state police trooper and chief of Westmoreland County detectives, that the images from the cameras make to easier to find a suspect who may have assaulted or mugged someone.
“This is a tool that is desperately needed by law enforcement today,” Zona said.
The cameras will be monitored from the police department dispatch center, allowing police to quickly identify emergencies or accidents and respond faster, according to Harry Faulk, township manager.
