Today we reflect on the ninth anniversary of the passing of Officer Michael Crawshaw.  On Sunday, December 6, 2009, Michael lost his life in the line of duty while serving our community.

Michael left a legacy of heroism and human decency that will forever be embraced by the men and women of the Penn Hills Police Department, especially for those who had the privilege of serving with him.

We offer our prayers and thoughts to Michael’s family and to all of those who knew him.  Not a day passes that he is not missed.  May peace be with you on this day of mourning.

We are pleased to announce that we now offer residents and visitors a safe place to meet for internet purchase exchanges.  Located within the visitor parking lot at the new municipal complex are two parking spaces reserved for internet transactions, marked by the sign pictured below. 

Monitored by video surveillance, the parking spaces are close to the municipal building, which houses the police department and is always accessible to visitors in need of police assistance.

Sadly, law enforcement agencies throughout the country have been taking reports for robberies that have occurred during meetups for internet transactions.  Though most people have good intentions when posting offers on sites like Craigslist, OfferUp, letgo, and Facebook’s Marketplace, some are not legitimate and are merely attempting to lure unsuspecting buyers/sellers carrying cash or valuables, with the intent of robbing them.

We also encourage buyers and sellers to read the advisory content posted by most internet marketplace sites, warning of potential scams and other issues.  Remember the adage “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

Beginning Thursday, July 19, 2018, the Penn Hills Police Department will shift all operations to the new municipal complex, at 102 Duff Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15235.  The police department entrance will continue to be open 24 hours a day to the public.  The Records Division hours will remain the same. 

Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, we were unable to forecast the moving date with much notice.  We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.  As always, we look forward to serving you from our new home. 

On October 30, 2017, the laws concerning fireworks in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania officially changed, replacing the Fireworks Act of 1939.  As summer rolls in, we want residents to be aware of the new changes to the laws, and how they could affect you.  If you’re planning on purchasing fireworks this season, please take a moment and view the following link outlining the most notable changes to the laws, provided by the Pennsylvania State Police.

Pennsylvania State Police – Fireworks Information Page

Beginning May 14^th, the Penn Hills Police Department will be participating in the national seat belt enforcement campaign known as “Click it or Ticket.”  The program is sponsored by Buckle-Up Pennsylvania and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  413 people who did not buckle up lost their lives in crashes on Pennsylvania roadways in 2015. 

The campaign will run until June 3^rd.  These will be “zero tolerance” enforcement details, meaning you will be cited if you are caught not wearing your seat belt and stopped for a primary traffic violation.  The campaign also targets children who are not properly restrained in child safety seats or booster seats, if required by law.

Please wear your seat belt.  Many studies have proven that wearing your belt dramatically increases your chances of surviving a serious traffic collision.  The few seconds it takes to buckle-up may save you some money, but more importantly, may save your life!

On Thursday, May 17, 2018, a group of concerned Penn Hills citizens will be hosting the “Penn Hills Night of Awareness” inside the auditorium at the Penn Hills Senior High School, at 309 Collins Drive.  The symposium will run from 6:00 to 8:30 PM, and will focus on issues of addiction, mental health, and recovery. 

A host of speakers from various local agencies will be on-hand to present information on these topics, answer questions, and suggest resources on where to find help for anyone struggling with these issues.  This event is open to the public, though some material may not be suitable for children.  Click on the link below for more information.

Penn Hills Night of Awareness Flyer

The Municipality of Penn Hills is now accepting applications to participate in an upcoming selection process for the position of Police Officer within the Penn Hills Police Department.  We are currently looking to establish a new civil service eligibility list to hire from as the need arises.  There is no anticipated date to hire, though the previous two selection processes resulted in the hiring of over fifteen officers.

You can download the application, and other necessary forms by clicking here, or they can be picked up at the municipal building, room 204, during regular business hours.  Completed applications and forms must be received by 4:00 PM on Tuesday, April 10, 2018, along with a non-refundable $100.00 filing fee, payable by check or money order to the “Municipality of Penn Hills.”

The physical agility test and scored written examination have been scheduled for Tuesday, April 17, 2018, at 10:00 AM.  The tests will be conducted at the Allegheny County Police Training Academy, at 700 West Ridge Road, Allison Park, Pennsylvania 15101.  You must report for testing on time.

Click here to view the requirements to participate in the selection process, and here to see an outline of the job benefits.  We also strongly encourage potential applicants to thoroughly read through the rest of our police officer employment section on our website.  We outline, in great detail, what you can expect to go through during the selection process, and what we expect of you as a potential candidate for employment, including specific criteria that may or will disqualify you from the process.

We value the importance of hiring the best possible candidates for our agency, particularly those who display honesty and integrity, as this job places you into a position of public trust, and we owe the public the very best, as that is the level of service we aim to provide.

We thank you for your interest in our department, and we look forward to seeing all of the candidates at the testing site on April 17th.

The Penn Hills Police Department, along with other law enforcement agencies throughout Pennsylvania, will be participating in a state-wide program titled “The Pennsylvania Aggressive Driving Enforcement and Education Project (PAADEEP).”

PAADEEP is coordinated by PA Traffic Safety and sponsored by PennDOT and the US Department of Transportation.  The program focuses on the enforcement of moving violations that are often found to be the cause of many vehicle crashes in the United States.

From March 19^th until April 29^th officers will be conducting enforcement details on roadways that have had statistically higher numbers of reported vehicle crashes.  Officers will be primarily focused on drivers who display aggressive driving behavior, such as running stop signs and red lights, speeding, following too closely, failing to yield the right-of-way, careless passing and other moving violations that are deemed to be unsafe.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 32,675 people died in vehicle crashes in the United States in 2014.  Most crashes are the result of driver error.  An overwhelming majority of driver error involves the violation of traffic laws, and many of those have been linked to aggressive driving actions.

The goal behind this program is to reduce poor driving decisions that often lead to motorists being involved in a collision, and hopefully reduce fatal crash statistics across our country.  Running a red light to save 45 seconds is not worth losing your life or killing someone else, yet it happens daily across America.  We urge you to drive carefully and wear your seat belt.  Your life may depend on it.
 

Today we reflect on the passing of Officer Michael Crawshaw, who served proudly with the Penn Hills Police Department until his untimely death in the line of duty.  Michael unselfishly served the community, displaying honor, integrity and great courage, right up to the final call he answered that Sunday night in December 2009.

On the eighth anniversary of this tragedy, we take a moment to remind Michael’s parents, his brother, extended family members, and his friends, that our thoughts and prayers will always be with you.  Michael will forever remain a part of our family here at the PHPD, and so will you.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” – Matthew 5:9