Kiski Township supervisors hire 2 part-time officers as officials rebuild force after resignations

Kiski Township residents left without 24/7 police coverage for the last week amid widespread police resignations soon will see police coverage restored to normal staffing.

The township supervisors voted to hire two part-time police officers, pending a vetting process, during Wednesday’s meeting.

Zachary Byers and Daniel Clark were hired by a 4-1 vote. Voting for the hires were supervisors Chairman Mike Bash, Chuck Rodnicki, Rich Frain and Dylan Foster. Supervisor Sherry Tamski declined to say why she voted against the hires.

The new officers will help to restore the force that was virtually dismantled last Thursday when four of the township’s six officers resigned, including former Officer in Charge Sgt. Thomas Dessell and Darlene Veselicky, the part-time police secretary.

Dessell presented the township supervisors with a labor union grievance last week accusing some of them of harassment and intimidation.

In the grievance, Dessell accuses some supervisors of creating a “hostile work environment, by threatening and attempting to intimidate me and other officers in the course of our official duties as a police officer.”

Clark and Byers did not attend the meeting, and no information regarding their salaries was made available.

Township Solicitor Tim Miller kicked off the meeting and addressed the packed room about what he described as “unprecedented events” of the past week.

“Right now those are allegations, OK? Make that very clear. I would add that this board of supervisors is incredibly eager to address and discuss those allegations.

“However, Mr. Dessell late last week informed the township that he plans to file a lawsuit as early as this week. I have advised this board not to discuss any matters regarding pending or active litigation. This board will have no comment,” Miller said.

Newly hired police Chief Lee Bartolicius said he plans to staff officers beginning this weekend on 12-hour shifts, from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m.

For now, Bartolicius will cover daytime shifts.

With staffing up to four officers, Bartolicius said residents will have 20 hours of police coverage, six days a week. He told residents he’ll continue to work closely with the state police.

“I’m very encouraged, and I have 110% backing of the supervisors,” Bartolicius said after the meeting. “I would like to ask the residents to continue to stick with me, and I’ve received overwhelming support since I’ve gotten here.”

Bartolicius, 30, is from Butler and has served in law enforcement since 2013.

Township resident Brittany Hilliard said she was caught off guard by the news of the police department walkouts last week.

Hilliard said it motivated her to attend her first supervisors meeting, and she was one of about 10 residents who spoke during the public comment period.

Many residents expressed thanks to the supervisors for acting quickly to replace the police force. Several residents asked about the timeline for when the township can expect to return to 24/7 police coverage.

“As soon as possible,” said Supervisor Michael Bash.

State troopers out of the Kittanning station are providing coverage in Kiski Township and North Apollo .

Residents and some North Apollo officials have been concerned about state police response time from the Kittanning station, which is about 20 miles away.

While on patrol, the troopers are encouraged to remain in or close to their assigned zones.

Trooper Joshua R. Black said they can stay in their coverage zone to complete reports and respond to calls without returning to the Kittanning station.

“Because they are encouraged to remain close to their patrol zone during their shift, response times will vary,” he said. “Because of this, we cannot say it will take a set number of minutes for troopers from PSP Kittanning to respond to calls for service in Kiski Township or North Apollo,” Black said.

In the long term, more troopers might be assigned to the Kittanning station if Kiski Township does not hire new officers, Black said.

However, state police won’t add troopers until the agency analyzes the emergency calls and reported crimes, he added.

Veselicky, of East Vandergrift, attended the meeting. She spoke up during the meeting to remind the supervisors that they had overlooked voting to approve her resignation.

Supervisor Bash issued an apology to her on behalf of the board.

“I’m bowing out. The disrespect, animosity and discrimination from some of the supervisors. I’m very disappointed in their actions,” Veselicky said after the meeting. “If I lived in North Apollo or Kiski Township, I’d be worried.”

Township resident Joli Studley-Cibik said she is hopeful full-time police coverage returns quickly.

Studley-Cibik expressed concerns about state police response time.

“This is great — hiring two more, but I want to know when we can expect to have a police force that is on board, trained and familiar with this area because it’s rural.”

Studley-Cibik had a message for the supervisors.

“Work expeditiously, do not rest until you have a fully staffed, well-trained, good police officers. I don’t want them to just put anybody in there,” Studley-Cibik said.

Staff writer Mary Ann Thomas contributed to this report.