MONONGAHELA - While the police chief and the mayor aren't talking, the city's new random drug testing policy for police officers apparently has snared an offender. The Valley Independent has learned that one of the city's seven officers was suspended after failing a random test. Chief Brian Tempest and Mayor Robert Kepics refused to either confirm or deny that an officer has been suspended. However, when asked to comment on the drug-testing policy that Kepics instituted when he took office in January, the mayor said, "I want the people to know my officers are clean. We're trying to address the problem and we are addressing the problem." [continues 367 words]
DONORA - After listening to the proponents of a proposed methadone treatment center and the residents who oppose it, borough council came out against the concept. And the borough leaders are going to take steps to ensure the proposed center is not developed in Donora. At its public meeting Thursday, council announced it wants to work with Middle-Monongahela Industrial Development Association to keep anyone from buying property inside the agency's industrial park for use as a methadone clinic. Further, council will send, by Nov. 15, a letter to MIDA outlining its stand against the proposed center. [continues 215 words]
CALIFORNIA - A California University of Pennsylvania student was sent to the Washington County Correctional Facility for allegedly assaulting a university police officer who responded to a report about the odor of marijuana Friday night. Steve Orbin, a campus police officer, responded to a call 10 p.m. Friday from student advisors at Residence E who said they smelled marijuana outside Room 411. Orbin and police Sgt. Mark Gazi knocked on the door, which was answered by [Name redacted]. However, [Name redacted], a student, did not allow the officers to enter. [continues 241 words]
BENTLEYVILLE - Whenever a community's police department is disbanded, the decision rarely is popular. Bentleyville residents responded in a predictable way to borough council's decision Tuesday night to disband the police force and to depend on state police coverage. "That's not safe at all," Angela Mock said. "We need local police in Bentleyville. There is too much action going on in Bentleyville for us not to have our own police. "We need police here at all times. I live in the Bentleyville Apartments and I just saw first-hand (Tuesday) night how bad things can be. There was a fight going on and no state police showed up. [continues 405 words]
