Westmoreland County sheriff swears in doctor, pastor as special deputies

At the outset of the coronavirus pandemic, Westmoreland County Sheriff James Albert said seven of his deputies came into contact with someone who may have had covid-19 and the department was desperate for information on the availability of tests and other support.

“We reached out, but couldn’t get answers initially, so all the deputies had to be quarantined. Fortunately, no one has caught it and they’ve returned to work,” Albert said.

Over the course the last month, those questions arose again with 10 more cases of deputies possibly being exposed.

Finally, Albert said his chief deputy Roger Eckels reached out to a longtime, Dr. A. Timothy Saloom of Mt. Pleasant Township. Saloom is medical director of Integrated Acute Care Services at Somerset Hospital and volunteer director of the Fayette County Tactical Medical Team.

“Dr. Saloom was of great assistance to us during this time. Plus, with the ongoing opioid epidemic and possible exposure, and our deputies working all hours serving warrants, performing surveillance and other work, we wondered whether he would agree to be a special deputy, a volunteer position,” Albert said. “That way Dr. Saloom could be available to us 24/7, in case something arises.”

Saloom said he told Albert and Eckels, he’d “be honored.”

On Friday, Saloom was sworn-in as a special deputy during a brief ceremony at the courthouse. Albert also swore in pastor Bob Ross of Heritage Baptist Church in Jeannette as department chaplain.

“I’m really humbled by this,” said Ross, who has served as chaplain at Westmoreland Manor for 22 years and has volunteered at the county prison for 22 years.

As for Saloom, the father of four said he is eager to serve and assist law enforcement.

FBI Special Agent Samuel S. Hicks, who was killed on November 19, 2008, while executing a federal arrest warrant associated with the takedown of a violent drug trafficking organization in Indiana Township, was Saloom’s cousin. Hicks, a Scottdale native, was shot and killed as he entered the house to make the arrest.

“It’s really important to have someone available to answer medical questions and medical issues who are in positions like these people who serve us,” Saloom said.

Saloom earned a bachelor’s degree at Slippery Rock University then joined the Army, where he was a captain an an AH-1S Cobra attack helicopter pilot. He completed further studies at the University of Texas in San Antonio and earned his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, completing his residency at Excela Health Latrobe hospital.

Also during the ceremony, Albert recognized veteran sheriff’s deputy Sgt. Irvin Shipley for his work tracking down accused murderer Mario Matthew Gatti, 30, of New Kensington.

Albert said Shipley tracked Gatti to Georgia before Gatti was arrested April 19 by Jacksonville, Fla., authorities, after Irvin obtained information that he was hiding out on a beach there.

Gatti is accused of fatally shooting a Brackenridge man in January and was returned to Westmoreland County May 6 to stand trial. He is being held in the county prison without bond.

Albert said Shipley will start a new position beginning Monday as a member of the U.S. Marshal’s office in Pittsburgh fugitive task force. Under a 2012 agreement with the county, the sheriff’s office can assign a deputy full time to the task force.

The county continues to pay the salary of the deputy assigned to the task force, but officials noted the county will benefit through the use of the federal agency’s computers and staff.