North Braddock drops out of planning for a regional police department

NORTH BRADDOCK, Pa. — North Braddock is no longer part of the discussion to create a regional police department in the Mon Valley.

North Braddock Council this week voted 5-4 against joining a commission to look at combining police resources with neighboring communities.

Braddock, Rankin and East Pittsburgh are moving forward with the proposal.

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“I’m concerned that there may not be adequate public safety based upon the size of the area we’re covering now,” said North Braddock mayor Thomas Whyel.

North Braddock Police chief Isaac Daniele told Channel 11′s Michele Newell he’s not on board with the proposal.

“We have four communities and they want to run three to four officers per shift. That’s not enough,” said Daniele.

Supporters of a regional police department say it would offer standardized training, oversight, and accountability.

“It’s only three square miles between the boroughs and about 10,000 people. We don’t have that much coverage as it is right now,” said Braddock mayor Chardae Jones.

In the original plan, North Braddock would have been the headquarters for a regional police department, now there are talks that it will be headquartered in Braddock, but nothing has been finalized.

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