A Letter from Chief Ron Dziezgowski
CHIEF RON DZIEZGOWSKI
JHPD SAFETY TIPS est Jefferson Hills BOROUGH OF JEFFERSON HILLS NEWS
PROTECT YOUR HOLIDAY GIFTS
As we prepare for the holidays and plan to send gifts to our loved ones and friends, there are criminal organizations that are calculating ways to deprive you of your money and well-intentioned gifts. Well-organized criminal groups are targeting area US Post Office mailboxes to locate and steal items being sent through the mail. These criminals are breaking into local mailboxes, taking the contents with hopes of stealing checks, gift cards, and other items of value. Stolen checks are fraudulently cashed, usually for a higher amount, draining the funds of the victim. Residents must also be vigilant in monitoring the status of packages being delivered to their house during the holiday season. Any item of value left in the open, for any length of time, can be a target for criminals to steal. If you are a victim of a crime or see anyone suspicious loitering in the area, please call 911 immediately and a Police Officer will respond to investigate.
UNLAWFUL PRANKS
An older childhood prank, commonly known as“ Ding Dong Ditch”, which usually involves ringing a doorbell and fleeing before the homeowner answers the door, has once again gained popularity. However, this seemingly innocent prank is being escalated into a more disruptive and potentially dangerous behavior, where young juveniles are violently beating or kicking at the door of an unexpecting homeowner. This activity causes the homeowner to believe their house is about to be entered and their life is in jeopardy. There are criminal implications the participants may face for this type of behavior, such as harassment, criminal mischief, loitering and prowling … etc. In a recent tragic incident, an 11-year-old boy in Texas lost his life while engaged in this type of activity. I urge parents to have a serious conversation with their children about this activity and to advise them to refrain from playing this prank on their neighbors.
WHEN YOU NEED POLICE CALL 911 This is an important reminder for Borough residents that anytime you need Police services, for either emergency or non-emergency reasons, you should call 9-1-1. We are fortunate to have the Allegheny County 911 Communications Center, which is fully staffed with highly trained Telecommunications Officers, who utilizes stateof-the-art technology to answer all calls for service for Police, Fire and EMS. Their purpose is to accurately gather and document call information and dispatch those calls to the appropriate agency. In 2006, The Jefferson Hills Police Department( JHPD) decommissioned their onsite dispatch center and began utilizing the services of the Allegheny County 911 center. However, even after
36 WEST JEFFERSON HILLS nearly 20 years the JHPD continues to receive direct phone calls or even posts on our Facebook Page requesting police services. Failing to call 9-1-1 to report these incidents can delay police response and prevent the call from being properly documented. There are times when an officer or staff may be unavailable at the station due to other duties or calls for service, even though the JHPD provides 24-hour coverage. If you arrive at the police station and are unable to contact an officer or staff, or it is after normal business hours, there is a call box located outside the Borough Building that directly dials the 911 Center for you to request an officer. Calls to the JHPD during normal business hours should be made for administrative requests or general information only.
JHPD / JHFR ANNUAL TOY DRIVE
Finally, as the holiday season approaches, I ask for your consideration and generosity to once again support the JHPD / JHFR Annual Toy Drive. All toys and donations received go directly to local families who are experiencing hardships during the holiday season. The JHPD will begin accepting application request forms and donations on November 17, 2025, which will continue until December 12, 2025. Donations will also be accepted at Mayor McCaffery’ s Holiday in the Hills Celebration on December 6, 2025, from 2 p. m.-7 p. m. or they can be dropped off at the JHPD anytime until December 12, 2025. Donations will be distributed on or about December 17, 2025. If you plan on donating to this great cause, the JHPD is seeking age and gender appropriate toys for children 17 and under, gift certificates, and monetary donations. Only through your generosity can this program continue to be a success and help so many families in need. As always, we are grateful for the support and generosity of our residents and business owners. If you are a family in need, please stop at the JHPD and fill out a request application form so we can help. If you have any questions, please see JHPD Clerk Tara Revis, who can be reached during normal business hours at 412-655-2222 x2499.
On behalf of the JHPD, I want to wish everyone a blessed holiday season and Merry Christmas and ask that you continue to keep all first responders in your thoughts and prayers. God Bless!
Sincerely,
Chief Ron Dziezgowski
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