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Police training center at Waterfront dedicated
"We put in many nights planning with Steve," Purifoy said Tuesday.
Though the booming commercial development at the Waterfront is something he is happy about, Purifoy, a former Homestead police officer, practically beamed yesterday morning as Zappala officially dedicated the Allegheny County District Attorney's Regional Support and Training Center in the former Homestead Train Station at the Waterfront.
"It is something we have always needed," Purifoy said after a ceremony at Dave and Buster's at the Waterfront that was attended by scores of police chiefs and elected officials. "Steve has done a tremendous job helping the community."
Zappala spearheaded the project, which will convert the 93-year-old former train station into a regional police training and support center with a $150,000 Department of Community and Economic Development grant and $75,000 from the developer, Continental Real Estate Companies.
Zappala said the center will be used by police officers from Homestead, Munhall and West Homestead as a substation for their patrols at the Waterfront.
Additionally, the center will offer a variety of training programs for police officers in the Allegheny County District Attorney's Drug Task Force. There also will be training programs on topics such as domestic violence, forensics and K-9 units, the district attorney said.
Zappala said he has lined up instructors from his office, the Duquesne University's law school, Point Park College, the FBI, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Allegheny County Coroner's Office.
Zappala said he anticipates the course offerings will begin in January.
The site also will be staffed by a warrant officer for getting evening and weekend protection-from-abuse orders through an interactive link with Pittsburgh.
And it will be a state certification center for law enforcement computer use that will provide training on 30 computers. The center will save officers a trip to Hershey for certification.
Zappala emphasized that the center will be open to all police departments.
"We want to work together," Zappala said. "There is a tremendous sense of team."
West Mifflin police Chief Frank Diener said he is eagerly anticipating the courses.
"It is a really good opportunity for all the communities," Diener said. "We will use it and take advantage of the classes there."
Former Duquesne Mayor George Matta said the establishment of the support and training center is positive on two fronts.
"It sends two signals," said Matta, Allegheny County recorder of deeds. "It shows we are fighting crime in the Mon Valley and (encourages) economic development."
Matta said elected officials and police chiefs "need to start talking on the same page" with respect to regional economic development and crime fighting, and the center is a positive step in those directions.
Monroeville police Chief George Polnar said training centers "anywhere in the county enhance the area and offer a wider range of training."
Polnar, Monroeville's former training officer, said there is never enough training for police officers.
"It is one more facility to enhance the ability to train on a countywide basis," he said.
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