Chronicle: To Protect And Serve - Hometown Police (Shaler Township)
Chronicle: To Protect And Serve - Hometown Police (Shaler Township)
WEBVTT SALLY: HAVING TO WORK MULTIPLE POLICE JOBS IS NOT UNCOMMON PLACE IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. OFFICERS MAY WORK SEVERAL PART-TIME JOBS FOR THE EXPERIENCE, OR TO MAKE ENDS MEET, BUT SOME LAND THAT DREAM JOB WORKING FULL TIME POLICING COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY GREW UP. BUT BECOMING A HOMETOWN POLICE OFFICER IS NOT THAT EASY. >> SHALER TOWNSHIP. A MODEST TOWNSHIP OF 29,000 RESIDENTS. NO DAZZLE. JUST THE SIMPLE LIFE. ONLY 12 TRAFFIC LIGHTS HERE COVERING 11 MILES. THE TOWN GETS ITS ADRENALINE FROM 97,000 VEHICLES PASSING THROUGH EVERYDAY. SO WHAT KIND OF POLICE DEPARTMENT PATROLS THIS QUIET BEDROOM COMMU TO FIND OUT, WE GO WHERE SHALER RESIDENTS LIKE TO EAT. COLE'S CAFÉ >> DARLING. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. >> THIS IS WHERE WE FIND THE PULSE OF THE TOWN AND GET THE 411 ON SHALER'S POLIC >> DESCRIBE SHALE >> OH IT'S MAYBERRY. } >> EVERYBODY KNOWS EVERYBODY. MAYB >> BASICALLY THAT MEANS IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR RESIDENTS TO LEAVE DOORS UNLOCKED TO THEIR CARS AND >> UM,HMM, YOU GUYS FEEL REAL COMFORTABLE HERE. OH YEAH >> THAT SEEMS TO MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR FOR THE 26 OFFICERS IN SHALER'S POLICE DEPARTMENT. A TOWN WITH LOW STRESS FOR LAW E OFFICERS START OFF MAKING $54,000 A YEAR. AFTER SIX YEAR, THEIR PAY IS BUMPED UP TO $82,000. IT SEEMS THIS PLACE FITS THE PROFILE OF A DESTINATION JOB FOR A CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT,- AT LEAST THAT'S HOW OFFICER DENNIS GAPSKY SEES IT. >> I LOVE BEING HERE. THIS IS A DREAM JOB. >> BUT IT WASN'T A DREAM GETTING HERE. IT WAS A DIFFICULT JOURNEY. GAPSKY, LIKE MANY POLICE OFFICERS IN WES PENNSYLVANIA, MUST WORK PART-TIME RIGHT OUT OF THE ACADE PROTECT AND SERVE FOR TWO, SOMETIMES THREE POLICE DEPARTMENTS AT THE SAME TIME, JUST TO COME CLOSE TO LOGGING A 40-HOUR WORK WEEK. IN 2013, GAPSKY WORKE PART-TIME FOR THE WEST VIEW, OHIO TOWNSHIP AND MILLVALE POLICE DEPARTMENTS AT THE SAME T AND YES SOME OFFICERS WITH A SIMILAR WORKLOADS STAYED ON THE CLOCK FOR 24 HOURS. U GOT TO MAKE THAT MONEY. >> PERSONALLY, DIN FEEL IT WAS SAFE. TO BE HONEST WITH. I KNOW PEOPLE WHO WORKED 24 HOURS STRAIGHT. >> THAT MAKES GAPSKY APPRECIATE THE SHALER POLICE DEPARTMENT EVEN MOR AS PART-TIME, POLICE OFFICER FEEL THE STRAIN MENTALLY, PHYSICALLY AND FINANCIALLY. THEY MUST PAY FOR ALL OF THEIR EQUIPMENT INCLUDING THEIR FIREARM AND VEST WITH NO HEALTH >> YOU ARE PAYING A FULL DOCTOR VISIT. YOU ARE PUTTING IN $80. THERE IS A COUPLE OF HOURS OF WORK. THEN YOU GOT TO WORK MORE TO SUPPLEMENT THAT. >> GAPSKY SAYS A PART-TIME OFFICER MUST PAY CAN PAY WELL OVER $2,000 OUT OF POCKET JUST TO BE OUTFITTED WITH UNIFORM AND GEAR. THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE TUITION FOR THE POLICE ACADEMY. ITE IS FAIR. TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, THAT IS HOW IT IS HERE IN THE PART OF THE CITY. >> BUT LIFE AS A SHALER POLICE OFFICER ISN'T A LAYUP. THEY, TOO, DEAL WITH OVERDOSES AND BRE COUPLEND THEY GET THEIR HEALTHY SHARE OF DOMESTIC CALLS. >> GRAND MOTH EARN SISTER ARE INVOLVED INDO MOSTIC. >> IT'S A THURSDAY NIGHT. OFFICER KEN WISE ANSWERS A DOMESTIC CALL. MANY POLICE OFFICERS SAY DOMESTIC CALLS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF THE UNKNOWN. >> YOU NEVER DO. THEY SAY IT IS A GRANDMOTHER. ANYBODY COULD PULL A TRIGGER, YOU KNOW? OR GET A KNIFE. >> WISE IS BACKED UP BY TWO OTHER OFFICERS, BUT THIS CALL ENDS PEACEFULLY WITH A CONVERSATION WITH THE RESIDENTS IN THE HOUSE BUT ON AUGUST 22, 2013, SHALER POLICE RESPONDED TO A VERY VIOLENT AND DEADLY DOMESTIC CALL. JAMES EDWARDS SHOT HIS WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN AND THEN KILLED HIM HIS DAUGHTER LAURIN WAS KILLED WHILE THE OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS S THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH ANOTHER FAMILY ON MAY 23, 2011. BARRY HADESTY SHOT AND KILLED HIS LIVE-IN GIRLFRIEND AND H TWO CHILDREN AGES SEVEN AND ON DOMESTIC CALLS KEEP SHALER POLICE ON HEIGHTENED ALERT. >> WHAT IS SO UNIQUE? >> IT IS A GREAT DANGER. WE'RE RELYING ON INFORMATION FROM THE 911 CENTER. MAIN, IT IS NOT ALWAYS RIGHT DEPENDING ON WHO THEY ARE TALKING TO ON THE PHONE WHETHER IT IS A THIRD PARTY. WHEN WE GET THERE, WE DON'T KNOW IT GO IS A SETUP. >> SHALER POLICE SAY THEY TAKE PRIDE IN PROTECTING THEIR COMMUN BUT THEY'RE WATCHFUL OF WHAT'S HAPPENING OUTSIDE THEIR TOWN. LIKE THE HOSTILITY TOWARD POLICE IN OTHER CITIES. SHALER DOESN'T HAVE MANY AFRICAN AMERICANS, LATINOS OR ASIAN RES >> WHAT DO WE WANT? [CHANTING] >> NO DISTURBANCES IN SHALER OVER CONTROVERSIAL SHOOTINGS, BUT POLICE HERE STILL MAKE IT THEIR BUSINESS TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE QUESTIONABLE SHOOTINGS ACROSS THE COUNTRY OF UNARMED AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN BY OTHER POLICE OFFICERS. THEY SEE THE HOSTILITY BUILDING AGAINST POLICE IN OTHER CITIES >> JUST TO DEAL WITH THAT. >> GAPSKY, WITH FELLOW OFFICERS WISE AND JOSH LOGAN TALK CANDIDLY ABOUT THE RISING TENSIO >> THERE ARE A NEW HAVE SHOWN THEY WERE UNJUSTIFIED. THAT REALLY, YOU KNOW, CREATES A, UM, CREATES ISSUE FOR US. THIGH THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE IT. LEARN IT FROM. THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN REAKIN SIMILAR SITUATIONS. >> THE OFFICERS OFFER A REMINDER THAT POLICE ARE NOT PE >> OBVIOUSLY WISH THERE NEGATIVE THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN OUR ROW FEX. WE'RE NOT PERFECT. WE'RE HUMAN LIKE EVERWINS. WE HAVE TEACHERS WITH THEIR INSTANCES. YOU KNOW, YOU GOT IT. YOU KNOW, EVERYONE CAN MAKE A BAD UM MAJOR. YOUS HOW YOU GROW FROM IT. YOU MAKE SPLIT-SECOND DECISION LIKE THAT. YOU KNOW, I US ALWAYS, IT IS NOT ALWAYS THE EASIEST THING TO DO. >> THESE OFFICERS SAY INTENT IS NOT TO PROFILE, TARGET, SHOOT AT A PARTICULAR GROUP OF PEOPLE. ONLY PROTECT THE COMMUNITY. >> WE DONE GET DRESSED EVERY DAY TO SAY HOW ARE WE GOING TO GO OUT TO DESTROY A FAMILY OR LIFE. HOW ARE WE GOING TO HELP ONE? WE MEET ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE. SOME PEOPLE LIKE US. SOME PEOPLE DONE LIKE US. WE ARE NOT THROUGHOUT TO GET PEOPLE. WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. >> IT IS OUR BACKSEAT. IT IS WHERE THE BAD GUYS GO >> BUT SHALER POLICE KNOW THEIR WORDS ARE NOTHING WITHOUT ACTION SO THEY EMPHASIZE BUILDING A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH RESIDENTS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ONE OFFICER IN PARTICULAR IS KEY TO THAT STRATEGY. HE IS THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER. HE'S A MEMBER OF THE SHALER POLICE DEPARTMEN >> GOOD MORNING. >> HE IS OFFICER FRANK SPIKER. BUT IF YOU CALLED HIM OFFICER FRIENDLY THAT WOULD BE OK WITH H HIS JOB IS TWO-FOLD. >> HOW'S THE. >> I FEELING. >> GOOD MORNING. >> FIRST, SPIKER MUST RESPOND TO BEHAVIORAL ISSUES OR ANY UNREST AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND FOUR PRIMARY SCHOOLS. THEY CAN RANGE FROM A SIMPLE TALK WITH A STUDENT TO FILING CHARGES >> UNFORTUNATELY THEY ESCALATE WHEN THEY ARE EX PREGGING THEMSELVES IN THE WAY. IT BECOMES CRIMINA >> SHALER MAY BE AN UNASSUMING MAYBERRY KIND OF TOWN, BUT SPIKER SAYS THE KIDS HERE ARE HUNGRY FOR SOCIAL MEDIA INTERACTION JUST LIKE OTHER CHIL AND IT CAN BE HARMFUL. >> THAT ESCALATES OVER SOCIAL MEDIA WHERE PLOATING THINGS AND WE HAR THE BULLYING, OK. YEAH. THERE ARE INTERACTION. THEY ARE BASICALLY WE'RE FORMING ON THEIR OWN STAGE. DOING THAT. THAT DOES ACT OUT HERE. THAT LEADS TO ISSUES PERHAPS IN A HALLWAY. >> BUT OBSERVERS OF OFFICER SPIKERS WORK SAY HIS REAL VALUE IS EVIDENT IN THE RELATIONSHIPS HE BUILDS WITH STUDENTS. THAT'S HIS SECOND TASK AND IT'S PART OF THE POLICE MANDATE IN BUILDING A BOND WITH RESIDENTS STARTING WITH KIDS >> I THINK IT HELPS THE STUDENTS TO RECOGNIZE HE IS NOT THE ENEMY. HE IS ACTUALLY AN ALLY. THE AVERAGE PERSON LOOKS AT A POLICE OFFICER AND YOU SCHOOL, THEY THINK, OH, MUST BE A VIOLENT ENVIRONMENT >> IT IS A LOT MORE THAN. A HAVING HIM HERE IS, HE BUILDS RELATIONSHIPS WITH KIDS. >> WHAT TIME? >> WILL CHECK ON HER LATER. >> AND HE BUILDS MAYBE AN ENVIRONMENT OF TRUST. >> LET ME KNOW IF AIM CRAMMING YOUR STYLE, BILL. IN A WILL MOVE ON. >> THIS IS THE MODEL FOR ALL SHALR POLICE OFFICERS. >> YOUPLAY WITH THEM. YOU KNOW SHEM, YEAH, HEA HAVE A UNIFORM ON BUT WE THE SAME AS YOU. >> SOMETIMES THE COPS COME BAST PAST HERE. IF YOU KNOW THEM, THEY ARE ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU, NOT ONLY DO YOU FEEL SAFE, BUT FEEL LIKE YOU ALMOST HAVE A FRIEND. >> THE YOUNG PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THAT THIS WILLING THERE ARE GOOD POLICEMEN THAT REALLY AND TRULY DEVOTE THEIR WHOLE LIVES TO TAKE CARE OF THE COMMUNITIES >> SHALER TOWNSHIP POLICE 26 ST THEIR MESSAGE TO THE PUBLIC: IF YOU EVER PASS THROUGH THIS TOWN DON'T WORRY ABOUT RUNNING INTO TOUGH COPS, JUST GOOD POLICE OFFICERS. >> EACH DAY YOU PUT ON YOUR UNIFORM, DO YOU THINK COULD BE MY LAST DAY? >> I 100% DO. I 1 0000% BELIEVE THAT. MY GOAL IS WHEN I COME TO WORK, I WANT TO SEE MY FA
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Chronicle: To Protect And Serve - Hometown Police (Shaler Township)
Pittsburgh's Action News 4's Sheldon Ingram takes you inside the Shaler Township Police Department in this segment of Chronicle: To Protect and Serve. Click the video player above to watch the full segment.
Pittsburgh's Action News 4's Sheldon Ingram takes you inside the Shaler Township Police Department in this segment of Chronicle: To Protect and Serve.
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Click the video player above to watch the full segment.