Dormont Officers Walking Beats

Dormont police officers have been regularly walking beats on Potomac and West Liberty avenues and checking in on businesses since shortly after Richard Dwyer was hired as acting chief last month.

Officers are conducting the foot patrols and checking businesses on all shifts, Dwyer said.

“They’re checking them day and night, trying to give the business people a sense of security,” Dwyer said Thursday.

“We’re trying to entertain a partnership with the community,” he said. “The officers are talking to people … that’s the basis of community policing.

Borough Manager Gino Rizza said the he's heard from businesses pleased with the patrols, including Anne Gregory For The Bride, which he said had been having trouble with vandalism.

Officers had done foot patrols in the past, but not regularly, Dwyer said. The walking beats are also being documented.

The officers are also walking around the pool, he said.

“I think down around the swimming pool has been really great. I’ve gotten calls from several parents thanking me for that,” he said. “They said they welcome the police presence there. It makes them feel a little more comfortable and a little more safer.”

Rizza said the patrols have been helpful with kids acting up.

Dwyer has also asked police to regularly enforce regulations for things such as parking violations.

“As sworn police officers, they have to uphold the law,” he said.

If police see a vehicle parked illegally, they try to contact the owner to get them to move, he said.

Generally, he said, tickets issued for parking violations are the result of citizen complaints, adding officers aren’t “pouncing” on residents.

Sidewalk parking can lead to broken sidewalks and sewer and water lines, which affected residents are responsible for, he said.