Drug forfeitures, seizures fund police equipment purchases in Westmoreland County
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The Allegheny Township Police Department is doing away with its “bring your own gun to work” routine with help from the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office.
The department used $9,300 it received from District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli to buy 15 department-issued 9 mm handguns and holsters for all of its officers, Chief Duane Fisher said.
“We couldn’t be happier,” he said. “She’s been very helpful and is in constant communication with the departments to make sure they have the tools they need and trying to find new avenues to acquire things they don’t have.”
Allegheny Township was among seven agencies that collectively have received more than $48,000 from Ziccarelli’s office since January. Ziccarelli was elected district attorney in November 2021.
The money came from drug forfeitures, spokeswoman Melanie Jones said.
Property used or intended to be used in violation of drug laws is subject to forfeiture. Property or money transferred to a district attorney can be used only for enforcement or prevention of drug violations.
“It’s aimed specifically at reinvesting that money to fund resources for law enforcement to continue to prosecute and prevent drug crimes,” Jones said.
In addition to the cash donations for equipment, Greensburg’s police department received a 2011 Buick Regal that was seized in a drug case. Chief Shawn Denning said he is using the four-door sedan as his work vehicle.
Getting the car allowed Greensburg to “pay it forward,” enabling the city to donate a second pickup Denning said his department didn’t need to Penn Township’s police department.
“We’re humbled and appreciative of the generosity of the county,” Denning said. “When you’re working within a budget, any time that you can get something that’s unexpected gives us a lot of breathing room.”
The other distributions from the district attorney’s office are:
• Delmont police: $1,643 for a ballistic shield;
• Murrysville police: $13,212 for an automated license plate reader;
• Penn Borough: $1,827 for a portable radio;
• New Kensington: $4,500 for a police dog and vehicle.
• State police: $12,223 for Axon Investigate, an evidence-syncing computer program, and $510 for a digital camera.
Allegheny Township and Greensburg also received money for headsets its SWAT officers use to communicate. Greensburg received $4,289, and Allegheny Township got $1,029.
Fisher said his department already has bought its new guns and holsters. After getting accessories such as flashlights and training, he expects the weapons to be in use early next year.
Having a standardized service weapon will make managing ammunition easier and buying it cheaper, and it will resolve issues such as officers having incompatible ammunition or not being familiar with a particular handgun, Fisher said.
New Kensington police Chief Bob Deringer said the money his department received covered half the cost of buying a police dog, Atom, and the SUV outfitted for it from Manor Township. Atom’s handler is Officer J.T. Naviglia, who came to New Kensington from Manor Township.
Naviglia and Atom started working for the city last month.
New Kensington now has three police dogs, one on every shift, Deringer said.
“You’ve got a wonderful police department and an excellent chief,” Ziccarelli said when she presented the $4,500 check to New Kensington officials at a city council meeting. “I hope this goes a long way. I’m excited to see what this officer is going to do.”