MURRYSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
Thomas P. Seefeld – Chief of Police
urr ysville
MU N I CI PAL IT Y O F M U RRYSVI L L E NE WS
T
he police department hired
two new officers, Officers Dave
Coleman and Dan Cox, due to
the retirements of Detective
Sergeant Stan King and Patrolman Kevin
Gibbons. Additionally, Officer Scott
Kettren was promoted to the rank of
Sergeant, and Sergeant Chuck Tappe
was promoted to the rank of Detective
Sergeant.
Officer Joe Bergamasco retired from
the police department after 21 years of
service.
Officer Jeff Macintosh obtained
PPCT (Pressure Points and Control
Tactics) certification and will be
the Department’s Defensive Tactics
Instructor.
Sergeants Kusinsky and Kettren
attended a highly acclaimed supervisory
training program “POSIT”.
Sergeant Wilhelm received instruction
re-certification in the use of the Taser.
Motorcycle officers Wilhelm,
Mastorovich, Keeler and Smith received
re-certification in police motorcycle
operations.
Detectives Devlin and Tappe received
training in a variety of investigative
areas involving cell phone technology,
interviewing and interrogation, social
networking, and drug interdiction.
SRO Yakshe received training
on School Crisis Prevention and
Preparedness.
Members of the department
participated in the Special Olympics
“Torch Run” on Route 22 through
Murrysville.
Officers received re-certification in
Defensive Tactics.
44 Murrysville
The Department was nominated for
the 2013 Secretary of Defense Employer
Support Freedom Award for its support
of employees who serve in the National
Guard and Reserves.
The Department participated in
the National Drug Take Back event at
Redstone Highlands and the Municipal
Building.
The Murrysville Alliance Church held
the annual police memorial tribute,
“Strengthening the Thin Blue Line”, to
recognize fallen officers and officers
who currently serve.
Chief Seefeld was elected to serve as
the Vice President of the Westmoreland
County Chiefs of Police Association.
Sergeant Kusinsky received “Active
Shooter” training and will incorporate
the knowledge into his firearms training
instruction with officers.
Local police dispatch service was
transitioned to the Westmoreland
County Department of Public Safety
(WCDPS-911) on December 2, 2013.
Sergeant Kettren received
certification in the Field Training Officer
(FTO) Program. He will serve as the
department’s FTO Supervisor.
Several police officers participated
in the PA Hero Walk benefiting the
Wounded Warriors Project.
Dispatchers Darlene Veselicky and Kerry
Kennedy retired from the department.
Administrative Assistant Jen Marts
received certification in Uniform Crime
Reporting and Evidence Handling and
Procedures.
Murrysville was ranked Number 5 on
the Safewise.com’s list of the 50 safest
cities in Pennsylvania with over 10,000
residents. Safewise.com compiled
independent research utilizing the most
recent FBI Crime Reports.
Crime Trends-2013
Drug Overdose Epidemic:
During the past few years, Murrysville
has experienced several drug overdose
deaths, usually involving heroin. This
trend is not unique to Murrysville, but is
occurring in many other municipalities
throughout Westmoreland County. Other
deaths have been the result of individuals
overdosing on illegal and/or prescription
drugs. The number of county-wide
overdose deaths has steadily increased
355% since 2002. In 2013, the county is
on a trend to experience more than 110
deaths due to overdose.
As a result and to address this
epidemic, the county has convened
a Drug Overdose Task Force. Chief
Seefeld is a member of the Task Force.
Our purpose is a multi-year project
designed to identify the root causes and
find solutions to dramatically reduce the
number of overdose deaths.
Burglary and Theft:
Investigations of burglary and theft
incidents have shown that a majority
of these crimes are committed for the
purposes of obtaining money, valuables,
and property. It is common for the
suspect(s) to take the stolen items to a
pawn shop in exchange for money. The
money is then used by the suspect(s) to
purchase illegal drugs. Our detectives
work closely with pawn shops and other
law enforcement agencies during their
investig ][ۈ