The Penn Hills Police Department would like to alert residents to a telephone scam that attempts to convince parents that their child has been kidnapped.  The scam often targets the parents of college students, asking them to pay a ransom for the safe return of their child.  The caller may have the name of the child, and a scream or muffled cry in the background has been reported on some occasions.

If you receive a similar call, authorities recommend parents should try to text, call or reach their child through social media to confirm their safety.  Additionally, if possible, ask questions of the caller that only your family member would know the answers to.  We urge all residents to contact their local police department by calling 911 if they receive a call of this nature.

On behalf of the members of the Penn Hills Police Department, our thoughts and prayers are with the officers of the Canonsburg Police Department as they cope with the tragic loss of Officer Scott Bashioum and the wounding of Officer James Saieva.  Officer Bashioum was a seven year veteran of the department and previously served with the United States Air Force.  He was fifty-two years old and is survived by his wife and children.

We offer our most heartfelt sympathies to both officers’ families and friends during this difficult time, and wish Officer Saieva a speedy recovery from his injuries.  May peace be with everyone affected by this tragedy.

We are pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications for the 2016 Citizens Police Academy – Fall Session class.  Class size is limited to twenty (20) students, with preference given to Penn Hills and Monroeville residents.  Application packages may be picked up at the Penn Hills and Monroeville Police Departments, or downloaded from this site by clicking here.

Please complete your application and other necessary paperwork/checks as soon as possible to confirm your spot in this class.  Many local law enforcement agencies offer Citizens Police Academy classes at various times throughout the year; however we believe our program is very unique, offering students a chance to drive an actual police car on a “skid pad,” and to participate in live firearms training on a state-of-the-art shooting range maintained by the Monroeville Police Department and the FBI.

For additional information on the program, and the requirements to apply, please visit our Citizens Police Academy page.  The first class will be held on Friday, September 14, 2016 at 7:00 PM at the Monroeville Police Department.

The Penn Hills Police Department will be hosting a crime watch meeting on Thursday, May 26, 2016 at 7:00 PM.  The meeting will be held at the Penn Hills Volunteer Fire Department Station #227, located at 125 Universal Road.

Detective Trogler will host the meeting and discuss a variety of topics, to include; submitting online reports of suspicious activity, crime preventions tips, and answer questions that people may have.

This meeting is open to anyone that would like to attend, particularly residents and business owners in the community.  We look forward to seeing you there!

In a little over a month’s time hundreds of Pennsylvania police officers will participate in the 2016 “Be a Fan” Law Enforcement Torch Run.  The 150+ mile run will start in Pittsburgh and finish at Penn State University in State College, PA.  The purpose of the event is to raise money, but more importantly, raise support and awareness for Special Olympics Pennsylvania and the athletes who participate in the games.

The run will begin on May 31^st and conclude on June 2^nd.  We are hoping to have at least ten Penn Hills police officers participating in the event this year.  Our agency has committed to “own” one of the fifty-six segments of the course, and has done so since this event returned to the area in 2011.  Our segment of the course begins on Business Route 22 in Wilkins Township and runs into Monroeville.

If you are interested in making a donation to support the PHPD team please click here.  All donations go to support Special Olympics Pennsylvania.

On Monday, February 29, 2016 Officers Lindsey Bigger and Jason Bonace took on a new line of work for the day, serving food at a restaurant in White Oak, PA.  Their new roles were inspired by an event created by the White Oak Police Department called “Tips for Cops.”

The charity event asks for area police officers to volunteer as waiters and waitresses for a day and donate their tips to the White Oak Food Pantry.  This local pantry serves financially challenged families in the Mon Valley.  The event raised $6,651.26.  Hat’s off to Officers Bigger and Bonace, and to the White Oak Police Department for organizing the event!

Tips for Cops Letter of Appreciation

This past Monday (02/08/2016) at approximately 6:37 PM Penn Hills police officers were called to a house in the 100 block of Vincent Drive for a serious domestic disturbance.  Officer Patrick Ford was the first to arrive on scene and was met outside by a frantic woman who told him that a juvenile female was being held inside an upstairs bedroom with an adult male.

Upon receiving the information, Officer Ford entered the residence and could hear a young girl screaming for help upstairs.  He proceeded upstairs and forced entry into a locked bedroom, discovering an adult male inside who was attempting to sexually assault the female victim.  The male was subdued and placed into custody.  He was charged with multiple felony violations and lodged at the Allegheny County Jail.

Officer Ford’s quick response to the call, and his willingness to act without hesitation, choosing not to wait for additional police units, prevented the rape of a twelve-year-old girl.  Congratulations Officer Ford on a job well done!

Penn Hills Police Department Incident #1600002044

We are pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications for the 2016 Citizens Police Academy – Spring Session class.  Class size is limited to twenty (20) students, with preference given to Penn Hills and Monroeville residents.  Application packages may be picked up at the Penn Hills and Monroeville Police Departments, or downloaded from this site by clicking here.

Please complete your application and other necessary paperwork/checks as soon as possible to confirm your spot in this class.  Many local law enforcement agencies offer Citizens Police Academy classes at various times throughout the year; however we believe our program is very unique, offering students a chance to drive an actual police car on a “skid pad,” and to participate in live firearms training on a state-of-the-art shooting range maintained by the Monroeville Police Department and the FBI.

For additional information on the program, and the requirements to apply, please visit our Citizens Police Academy page.  The first class will be held on Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at 7:00 PM at the Monroeville Police Department.

This past Friday (01/22/2016) at approximately 11:58 AM Officer Lucas Lauricia was on routine patrol when he spotted a vehicle involved in a call that other Penn Hills officers were responding to.  He conducted a traffic stop with that vehicle and determined that the driver was the person involved in the call the other officers were answering.

During the stop Officer Lauricia could smell an overwhelming odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, which coincided with a report that the driver was transporting a large amount of marijuana.  Subsequently, Officer Lauricia located over 25 pounds of marijuana inside the vehicle.  The driver was arrested and was charged with possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver it.  Nice work Officer Lauricia!

Penn Hills Police Department Incident #1600001157

For many years the members of Police Helping People Daily (PHPD) set up the train display in the municipal building during the Christmas season, for all to come and enjoy.  PHPD is made up of active and retired Penn Hills police officers and staff.  As the years passed the display began to see a decrease in visitors.  It was decided that the display would come to an end after the 2014 holiday season.

In 2015 the group organized an auction to sell off all of the trains, platforms and displays.  This past December the PHPD donated $2000.00 from the sale proceeds to the Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia Make-A-Wish® Foundation.  PHPD has been donating to Make-A-Wish since 1989 and has donated over $40,000 to their foundation, only asking that the donations be used for children in the program that reside in Penn Hills or Verona.

On January 14, 2016 Make-A-Wish sent a letter sharing thanks for the donation, but more importantly, describing the opportunities that donations to their organization make possible, like how a four-year-old Verona child with sickle cell anemia was able to enjoy a trip to Walt Disney World to see her favorite Disney characters.  Thanks Make-A-Wish for operating such a wonderful organization!

Make A Wish Letter (Certificate of Recognition and thank-you letter)