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I have been very fortunate to serve as your chief of police during the past eight years, during which time the South Fayette Township Police Department has grown by leap and bounds.

We have hired 11 new officers since 2014, bringing the total number of officers to 23—a direct result of our elected Board of Commissioners recognizing the need to enhance public safety to serve our increasing population and business community.

By expanding the police to numbers that reflect the growth of South Fayette, the department has been able to create specialized assignments for officers to better protect and serve our residents.

With growth comes an increase in traffic, so we recently assigned two full-time officers to enforce traffic laws in areas deemed to be problematic. This unit’s visibility will help keep motorists safer on township roadways.

Another specialized unit is investigations. Two full-time officers serve as investigators, following up on incidents and helping solve crimes.

An officer is assigned to serve as the School Resource Officer in the South Fayette School District during each school year, while our bloodhound, Ellie Faye, always is on call and ready to assist with searches and attend community events.

Four squads of four officers patrol neighborhoods 24 hours, 7 seven days a week and handle calls for service. In addition, officers within each squad are trained in numerous specialized areas. Just two of the many examples are bike patrol and Project Lifesaver, which tracks participating people who may become lost due to a cognitive condition.

These specialized assignments show how committed our officers are to protecting and serving our township.

As a 32-year resident of South Fayette, I am truly proud of how far we have come as a police department and as a community.

Professionally,

John R. Phoennik
Chief of Police
South Fayette Township

One of my favorite parts of the job is when I have the opportunity to work directly with residents to help solve a problem in their neighborhood.

These moments are especially memorable when citizens are willing to invest their own time and energy.

The spring 2023 issue of South Fayette Connect highlights Parkes Farm Estates, including references to stormwater improvements recently completed in the neighborhood thanks to a partnership between the township and the homeowner association (HOA).

To me, this story is so much more than a stormwater project. This story exemplifies the power of cooperation and the true spirit of community.

Township staff first contacted members of the Parkes Farm HOA to share the unfortunate news that a stormwater detention pond in the neighborhood was not functioning and to notify them that the responsibility to repair and maintain the facility belonged to the HOA, not the township.

At first, the news may have been a bit alarming to the HOA, but as we moved through the process, we were able to form strong working relationships with the residents we met in Parkes Farm. We soon realized the township and the neighborhood were coming from the same place; that is, we both had the best interests of the community at heart.

The township and HOA cooperated to clean up the stormwater pond, inspect the mechanical components of the structure and produce a scope of work to finally have the facility function safely and effectively, as designed, to adequately protect from flooding, erosion and property damage.

When all was said and done, the residents of Parkes Farm put forth a good amount of sweat equity, and the township was able to help the neighborhood diagnose the problem and determine the proper repairs.

This scenario provided genuine benefits to Parkes Farm residents, township officials and the South Fayette community as a whole. It was great to see such community pride and spirit on display as this project progressed, and I am thankful for the experience.