Springdale considers police merger with neighboring departments

With the leadership of the borough's police department in question, Springdale Council President Jason Fry says it may be best for the community in the long run to explore merging police departments with its neighbors.

“I think this is the ideal time,” Fry said.

Charting a course for the department and the borough at large will fall to the council, which will meet for a reorganization meeting on Monday.

Council will have two members, Eileen Miller and David Spirk, who were elected in November. There will be one vacant seat, which council could fill through an appointment that night.

Council will choose new leadership.

Fry, who has been council president since February, said he would want to hand over leadership to someone else, but wouldn't turn down the post if asked to continue.

Fry said he expects council to approve searching for a new engineering firm, and possibly a solicitor.

Police chief in question

The new council could revisit and possibly undo the outgoing council's December decision to promote Officer Derek Dayoub to police chief. Dayoub remains the department's acting chief, a position he has held since shortly after council placed former police Chief Julio Medeiros III on paid administrative leave in August while investigating his alleged misuse of time.

Council fired Medeiros in November, alleging he failed to comply with the directives council had laid out for him in October to return to duty.

Medeiros has pending workers compensation and discrimination claims pending against the borough.

His attorneys claim an accountant's investigation of Medeiros' use of time produced no evidence of wrongdoing. They also claim Medeiros was immediately and fully complying with council's directive that he get tests done clearing him to return to work.

But at this point, Fry said it's unlikely Medeiros will be chief again.

“I don't think there's any way Medeiros is coming back,” Fry said.

Medeiros' discrimination attorney, Christian Bagin, said Medeiros had every desire to return to work for the borough before he was fired. Bagin said Medeiros wants his reputation restored before he would even consider coming back.

Bagin said any settlement must include a public proclamation by the borough exonerating Medeiros of any wrongdoing.

“There's really no discussion about anything beyond that until and unless the borough takes steps to undo the destruction of his good name and reputation, both here and across the country,” Bagin said.

Dayoub faces possible disciplinary action for alleged outbursts during and immediately after the Dec. 15 council meeting. An informal hearing on charges of insubordination brought by Mayor Ken Lloyd was held Wednesday. No action was taken at the hearing.

Consolidation a “no-brainer?”

Incoming Councilman Spirk agreed with Fry that now would be a “good time” for the borough to explore a regional police force.

“I think we ought to consider talking to all the other boroughs and townships around us and see what their plans are and see if that looks like a good alternative to do it that way,” Spirk said. “I would consider any of them. I think we ought to look at what our options are.”

Lloyd said he would be in complete agreement with a regional police force, which he said should cover the same municipalities as the Allegheny Valley School District — Springdale, Springdale Township, Cheswick and Harmar.

Harmar Supervisor Bob Exler called combining police forces “a no-brainer.” He said Springdale's problems could present an opportunity for the Lower Valley.

“When things are running smoothly, no one wants to change anything. When things aren't going right, you look for a fix,” he said. “It would be a great idea if we could get Springdale, Cheswick, Harmar and Springdale Township all to become one police force. It would save immense amounts of money. It would probably give us a better police force.

“I don't see a downside to it,” he said.

Springdale Township Commissioner Kenneth Igo said the township would be open to discussions. He said commissioners' focus would be on making the township better and saving its taxpayers money.

“We can always talk. It doesn't hurt to talk,” he said.

Cheswick council President Paul Jack and Mayor Dan Carroll could not be reached for comment.

Brian C. Rittmeyer is a staff writer for the Tribune-Review. Reach him at 724-226-4701 or brittmeyer@tribweb.com. See the article in the Tribune-Review here.