McKeesport police hear from residents at community event

About 20 residents attended the community outreach at First Step Recovery Homes.

By THOMAS LETURGEY
For the MVI

The McKeesport Police Department hosted its second “Your Presence Matters” community meeting Tuesday night at the First Step Recovery Homes building on Olive Street. More than 20 residents attended to hear from the city police department, and learn about available resources.

The nearly two-hour meeting also served as an opportunity for residents to share their thoughts and concerns about public safety in the city.

Police Chief Josh Alfer, who was accompanied by Mayor Tom Maglicco and others, began the small assembly by introducing members of the police department, a Resources for Human Development (RHD) program called “The A-Team”, Connect, which is described as a “Congress of Neighboring Communities.”

The A-Team is an Allegheny County pilot program and “alternative to the police department” when mental health and community services are better served. The team is designed to “serve as a fourth emergency service, complementing the existing system.” Alfer said the A-Team has been partnering with the police department for more than a year, and they oftentimes go along with 911, EMS and fire calls. They respond to welfare checks, suicide threats, mental health crises and other situations. Among the organization’s goals is to “reduce arrests and hospital runs,” said Jeff Williams of the A-Team.

Kelley Kelley, director of public safety and Wellbeing for Connect, is a former mayor of Turtle Creek who discussed the needs of those who “live with complex behavioral health needs, deep histories of trauma, cognitive disabilities, persistent poverty and lifelong experiences of punishment, failure and betrayal.” The organization is a community- based law-enforcement assisted diversion program that stretches throughout Pittsburgh from Clairton to Fox Chapel.

Travis Eiller, lead supervisor of Human Services Administration Organization (HASO) said his group has been providing services in the Mon Valley for 15 months. “The chief is super supportive of the program,” he said. “Most of our referrals come from the police department.”

Eiller said his organization can help people resolve driver’s license issues. Kelley said “asking for help is important.”

Alfer introduced Ava Ford of West Mifflin, a self-described “community activist” who he lauded for giving a positive message to the police department.

“You don’t get those too often,” he said.

Ford led a testimony about her own personal and family struggles. That transitioned into conversations with others like McKeesport Council Vice President LuEthel Nesbit, Councilwoman Amber Webb, and others who talked about their ascension up from homelessness, drug activity and despair. One man in attendance told officials it was because of these types of meetings he was able to turn his life around.

Keenon Mikell, chief operating officer of First Step Recovery Homes said he and the staff were “grateful to host the event” and the interactions with the officers. He predicted a great future for the young police officers and said, “we should have more new interactions.”

Some who spoke mentioned that meetings such as this help with “stigmas” and “trust issues” with police but have no problem when “there’s a fire truck for the kids.”