The wife of an Aliquippa police officer has warned officials that gross mismanagement of the city’s department is endangering the safety of both its officers and the general public.
BeaverCountian.com has obtained a copy of a June 8 letter that was hand-delivered to Aliquippa council members by Susan Roberts, wife of Detective Sergeant Steven Roberts, warning that officers have been working as many as four shifts back-to-back (a 32 hour work day) due to extreme staffing shortages.
“I am writing to you regarding concerns for the safety of our police officers, as well as the safety of members in the community,” Roberts wrote. “Due to the police department currently being extremely short staffed, this has caused several officers to work doubles, triples, and even a quad. Therefore, as a member of this community and a wife of an officer, I feel as though it is important to share some possible solutions to help improve this situation and create a safer environment for all.”
Roberts suggested in the letter that the department implement a policy preventing officers from working more than two double-shifts in a row.
She noted that the staffing shortages are in part the result of several officers being on paid administrative suspension for years without any action being taken by officials on their employment status.
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