Allegheny County DA, Monroeville Police Team To Reduce Drug Activity, Violent Crime

The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office will work with Monroeville police to reduce drug activity and violent crime in the eastern suburbs, officials said Thursday.

Drug activity in Monroeville has increased in the past six or seven years as Pittsburgh police efforts pushed drug sales out of Homewood and into nearby suburbs, District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. said.

“In a relatively short period of time, I think we can knock those numbers down,” Zappala said at a news conference in the Monroeville municipal building.

Police are monitoring the movement of narcotics in Monroeville’s business districts, he said. His office and other law enforcement agencies plan to work with Monroeville police to refocus the department’s efforts to monitor certain areas of the municipality.

Read more: http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/8225273-74/monroeville-drug-police#ixzz3YFEFf2vU
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Settlement Reached Between Monroeville, Former Manager

A former Monroeville manager will receive $45,000 in back pay in addition to retirement benefits as part of a settlement with the municipality.

In exchange, Lynette Mc­Kinney, 48, of Monroeville will drop lawsuits she filed over her termination a year ago, according to the terms of the settlement the Tribune-Review obtained Thursday under a Right-to-Know request. Old National Insurance Co. will pay McKinney $45,000 in back wages and $23,000 to her attorney, Joseph Chivers. Monroeville will pay $7,000 in insurance premiums directly to her.

Council approved the terms of the settlement this month.

Read more: http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/7619207-74/settlement-court-mckinney#ixzz3PelzOnq0
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Monroeville Mall Quieter Today After Friday Night Fracas

No trouble was reported as of this afternoon at the Monroeville Mall, which reopened today under heightened police watch after a series of fights broke among 1,000-plus teenagers and young adults Friday night, prompting the facility to close early.

Two injuries not believed to be life-threatening were reported in the skirmishes that began on the first floor and moved upstairs, startling shoppers on the day after Christmas and drawing police from multiple communities. Authorities expected to cite at least one for disorderly conduct, in addition to a pair of arrests made earlier Friday over a domestic dispute.

Monroeville Police Chief K. Douglas Cole said today he knew of no connection between the disturbance at the mall in his community and problems reported Friday in at least two other malls elsewhere in the nation.

Some mall stores within Independence Center in Independece, Mo., were locked down Friday night after several hundred youths congregated inside, with some fights breaking out, The Kansas City Star reported.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/local/east/2014/12/27/Monroeville-Mall-quieter-today-after-Friday-night-fracas/stories/201412270116

Former Police Chief Sues Monroeville As Whistleblower

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Monroeville’s former police chief has sued the municipality in federal court, alleging mistreatment after he exposed lapses in how officials protected sensitive law enforcement and medical information about residents.

In the suit filed late Monday night, Steven Pascarella, a 26-year veteran, is claiming civil rights violations, retaliation despite his status as a whistleblower, and failure of the municipality to accommodate an unspecified disability.

Mr. Pascarella, 46, was quietly fired in April. By then he had returned to the rank of lieutenant at his request because of medical issues.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/local/east/2014/07/15/Former-police-chief-sues-Monroeville-as-whistleblower/stories/201407150135#ixzz37Y2z8uqz

44 Arrested In Brazen Heroin-Dealing Network In Monroeville

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Federal officials today announced charges against 44 people — all but one from Western Pennsylvania — who are accused of involvement in a heroin-dealing network that called itself “Bricks-R-Us” and even wore drug-themed T-shirts.

U.S. Attorney David Hickton said the crew worked the parking lots and bathrooms along the commercial district on Business Route 22 in Monroeville, sometimes wearing T-shirts featuring the motto “100 Bricks at a Time.” Brick is a slang term for a large quantity of heroin.

“They brazenly conducted most of their drug trafficking in the Monroeville business district,” said Mr. Hickton. “As of today, they are on the run, and headed out of business.”

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2014/05/29/Federal-officers-to-announce-arrests-in-major-drug-trafficking-ring/stories/201405290245#ixzz338mxKOOZ

Monroeville Hires Private Investigator To Conduct Internal Probe

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For the second time in the past year, Monroeville has hired a private investigator to conduct an internal probe of the municipality’s turbulent affairs.

Interim Manager Timothy Little on Wednesday confirmed the existence of a broad and comprehensive investigation that will address, among other issues, recent personnel upheaval that involved his predecessor, the current police chief and several 911 dispatchers who were fired.

“We just want to get to the truth of what occurred here, that’s all,” Mr. Little said.

CSI Western PA is conducting the investigation. Its managing director, Joe Bellissimo, declined comment, citing client confidentiality and the ongoing nature of his work.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/local/east/2014/04/03/New-investigation-personnel-Monroeville/stories/201404030243#ixzz2xqhYSNG9

Monroeville Council Suspends Top Official

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In a municipality already reeling from a controversy involving its police department, Monroeville‘s municipal manager was placed on administrative leave with pay Tuesday evening and could be completely removed from her position Jan. 6.

At a special council meeting, a four-member quorum voted to suspend longtime employee Lynette McKinney. Joe Sedlak was appointed acting manager.

Of those present, councilmen Steve Duncan, Nick Gresock and Jim Johns voted for her suspension, with member Bernhard Erb abstaining. Mr. Johns said he made the motion to slow Ms. McKinney’s spending.

Solicitor Bruce Dice said the process to legally remove the manager is intricate, though her duties ceased Tuesday night.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/local/east/2013/11/27/Monroeville-council-suspends-top-official/stories/201311270151#ixzz2lrOWhtYc

Monroeville Municipal Manager Threatened After Firing Former Police Chief

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Police are investigating a threatening letter left at the home of municipal manager Lynette McKinney last week.

Police Chief Steven Pascarella said police are awaiting results from the crime lab.

“It’s credible enough that we’re taking additional precautions,” he said without elaboration.

Ms. McKinney said today she was “disturbed” by suggestions in the community that the letter was placed by Ms. McKinney herself.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-east/monroeville-manager-threatened-after-firing-former-police-chief-703720/#ixzz2fC1VIqCa

Monroeville Police Investigating Threat Against Municipal Manager

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Monroeville police are investigating a threatening letter received by municipal manager Lynette McKinney on Thursday night at her home, an official said Friday morning.

Mayor Greg Erosenko said the letter threatens McKinney and her family in retaliation for recent disciplinary actions she has taken against former police chief Doug Cole, who she fired Wednesday.  Police were dusting the letter for fingerprints as of this morning, he said.

McKinney was not available for comment this morning.  Police Chief Steve Pascarella also was not available for comment.

“If we can find out who the actor or actors are, we will prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law,” Erosenko said.

Read more: http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/4700476-74/police-erosenko-council#ixzz2en6ZlLmV 
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Demoted Monroeville Police Chief Terminated

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Former Monroeville police Chief Doug Cole, who was demoted to sergeant in February and then placed on paid administrative leave a week ago, has been terminated, manager Lynette McKinney confirmed late Wednesday night.

He was informed via a letter delivered this afternoon, she said.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-east/demoted-monroeville-police-chief-terminated-702873/#ixzz2egw7Hu00

Demoted Monroeville Police Chief Placed On Leave

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Former Monroeville police Chief Doug Cole, who was demoted to sergeant in February, has been placed on paid administrative leave, manager Lynette McKinney confirmed today.

She also confirmed that three dispatchers were fired for violating the computer usage policy of the municipality’s employee handbook.

She said Sgt. Cole was placed on leave Tuesday pending further action.

She declined to provide further details about the discipline against Sgt. Cole and would not name the terminated dispatchers.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-east/demoted-monroeville-police-chief-placed-on-leave-701953/#ixzz2dyxaCT92