Work day extended for Westmoreland's Park Police leaders; department raises cash for 2nd dog

Rich Cholodofsky, Tribune-Review, Greensburg, Pa.
Updated ·2 min read

Jan. 10—Top administrators with Westmoreland County's Park Police will begin working longer days this year.

The county's salary board Monday approved extensions of the work day by an additional 30 minutes this year and another half-hour in 2024 for Park Police Chief Henry Fontana, the department's two captains, one lieutenant and an office manager.

"We've been doing this for all of our 24-hour operations," county Commissioner Sean Kertes said.

Affected individuals will receive raises as their work day increases from 6.5 hours to seven this year. Work days will be extended to 7.5 hours in 2024.

The Park Police is the largest municipal police department in Westmoreland County. The 46-officer department patrols the courthouse in Greensburg, all county parks and other properties, including Westmoreland Manor, Westmoreland County Community College, Arnold Palmer Regional Airport and transit authority grounds.

"We've been trying to get on an eight-hour day for a while now," Fontana said, noting rank-and-file officers in his department already work eight-hour shifts.

Other county department administrators, including those at the county-owned nursing home, Westmoreland Manor, county public safety and fiscal offices have had their work days extended over the past year.

Fontana is looking to expand department operations. On Monday, he announced the Park Police is seeking to raise $75,000 to purchase a drug detection dog.

"With the properties we are responsible for, this make sense for us," Fontana said.

The department has one police dog, Rico, an explosion detection dog that circulates through county properties. A second dog will require a new handler and another vehicle to transport it.

A fundraising effort was kicked off with a $5,000 donation by Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli from money confiscated and forfeited to the department as part of drug investigations and arrests.

Fontana said additional grants and private donations are being sought to pay for the dog.

"In 2023, we want to have another dog," Fontana said.

Rich Cholodofsky is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Rich by email at rcholodofsky@triblive.com or via Twitter .