Donora receives police scholarship
By KRISTIE LINDEN
klinden@yourmvi.com
After Donora council voted Thursday to repeal the ordinance that would have forced longtime borough police Superintendent Jim Brice — and any other police officer who reached age 65 on the job — to retire, there was one more bit of good news for Brice.
Donora native Ulice Payne Jr. surprised the borough and police department with a $10,000 scholarship fund in Brice’s name that will act as seed money to pay for a student’s education in the California University of Pennsylvania’s police academy.
It will enable the police department to sponsor a student who then signs a contract with the borough to repay the cost of the tuition by working as a police officer in Donora. The officer, once graduated, will work in the borough at least until that debt is repaid.
Council discussed the possibility of being part of the program earlier this month at its workshop session, but the cost of getting the tuition paid for initially was potentially a barrier to getting a student signed up.
In a letter he asked Councilman Donnie Pavelko to read at Thursday’s meeting, Payne wrote, “As a native of the Home of Champions, I am forever grateful to the leadership of the Borough of Donora for operating and maintaining a racially integrated community that went about its business with pride and respect during my childhood.”
Payne said he was blessed with opportunities and he hopes others from Donora will also be able to pursue such experiences.
“In view of these unique challenges between law enforcement and the citizens they are sworn to protect, I would like to lend a helping hand,” Payne said. “As you may know, I am a childhood and lifetime friend of police Superintendent Jim Brice. His family’s commitment and integrity in serving our community are unquestioned. When I was home for the community reunion in July, we spoke about the ever-changing challenges facing the Donora Police Department. I would like to do my part to assist with meeting those challenges.”
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