South Connellsville residents complain about borough police
South Connellsville Borough Council President Karen Holbrook said council’s request for documents about borough volunteer firefighters’ certifications and background checks has nothing to do with claims from residents and fire company officers about borough police targeting patrons of the firemen’s club.
South Connellsville Volunteer Fire Co. Chief Jeremy Grubbs handed a document file to Councilman Steven Cross, chairman of the public safety committee, during a sometimes heated council meeting Monday night.
Holbrook said she has been asking for the documents regarding firefighters’ criminal background checks, child safety background checks, emergency vehicle operator certifications and drivers licenses for months.
The checks and certifications are required by the state and the state requires the fire company and the borough to have copies of the documents, Holbrook said.
She said she and council support the fire company, and the request for records has nothing to do with how the police officers do their jobs.
“All we asked for is paperwork,” Holbrook said.
Fire company president Don Ringer, other company members and some residents complained that officers wait near the firemen’s club for patrons to leave and then follow them and check license plates of vehicles in the club lot.
The club is losing customers and business because of the activities of police, Ringer said.
“The fireman’s club lost $1,500 a week. People just won’t come out this way anymore,” Ringer said.
Residents told council that police officers have followed them in their vehicles in other areas also.
“Karen, tell them to lay off us,” one woman said.
Police Chief Russ Miller said he and his officers are just doing their jobs.
He said he wants to protect against drunken driving, but officers don’t pull people over without probable cause.
Miller suggested that the club makes sure people who appear intoxicated get home without driving themselves and he offered to give them a ride home.