Students lauded for turning band trailer into mobile command center for Allegheny Valley Regional police

Haydon Lookhart’s first glance at an old high school band trailer had him thinking that converting it into a mobile command center for the Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department would be a tall task.

It needed a lot of work, the 17-year-old Kiski Area student said.

“We had to gut it completely out,” Lookhart said.

Lookhart and about 15 other Northern Westmoreland Career & Technology Center students, under the supervision of carpentry instructor Chris Serena, worked from February to June to refurbish the old trailer into a mobile command center for the Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department. The department serves Springdale Township, East Deer and Cheswick.

“I figured it was something we could do at school. … It’s something the kids could definitely do,” Serena said.

Serena had talked with police Chief Mike Naviglia to coordinate the project, which included gutting the trailer, removing shelves, replacing the electrical system, putting down flooring, adding and painting plywood and a bench, and installing cabinets from Lowe’s home improvement store.

Lookhart said he enjoyed doing “a little bit of everything” to fix the trailer.

“I learned how to do things right and enjoyed getting to work hand-in-hand with other people,” he said.

Serena said the students enjoyed the project.

“They loved working on something that’s out of their wheelhouse, and they had full design with it,” he said. “This was the kids’ project. I just made sure it worked with what the police officers wanted.”

The police board, along with state Rep. Mandy Steele’s office, recognized the students during a meeting Tuesday.

“We are so appreciative,” said Rick Stoneburner, chairman of the police board and an East Deer commissioner. “It could not be done without all your hard work.”

Steele’s office was able to secure a $17,500 state grant to pay for repairs to the trailer, Naviglia said. She also was able to obtain a $50,000 grant to pay for a truck to transport the trailer.

“With Allegheny Valley Regional (Police Department) covering three municipalities in our district, it’s so important for Chief Naviglia and his team to have the resources they need,” said Steele, D-Fox Chapel, whose district includes all three municipalities. “Our communities are really increasing efforts to engage residents with local events, so this command trailer and truck will be an important piece to keeping everyone safe.

“I was happy to secure funding for these purchases and look forward to seeing the trailer in use throughout Cheswick, East Deer and Springdale Township. I’d also like to express my gratitude for the amazing work done by the Northern Westmoreland Career & Technology Center students.”

Naviglia said the command center will be used for large events in local municipalities and also for large-scale emergencies.

It’s already been used twice, he said, including at a recent Jimmy Buffett tribute concert at the Pittsburgh Brewing Co. facility in East Deer that drew thousands.

“At this point, we can be anywhere,” Naviglia said. “We can be mobile in our operations.”

Parker Gibbon, 16, also a Kiski Area student, said he enjoyed working with his peers to transform the trailer into a mobile command center.

“(The police department) gets to use stuff we built,” he said. “That’s pretty cool.”