Belle Vernon names new chief of Southwest Regional Police Department
Mark Soroka
Belle Vernon Mayor Gerald Jackson (center), Council President Joe Minitti (right) and Southwest Regional Police Department Administrator Laurie Lazzari-Charnack (back) welcome Keith Williams as new chief of the Southwest Regional Police Department.
Belle Vernon Mayor Gerald Jackson (center), Council President Joe Minitti (right) and Southwest Regional Police Department Administrator Laurie Lazzari-Charnack (back) welcome Keith Williams (left) as new chief of the Southwest Regional Police Department.
Belle Vernon officials have hired a new police chief to lead the Southwest Regional Police Department.
Keith Williams, 51, was promoted in March after former police chief John Dale Hartman retired.
Williams started his career in law enforcement 13 years ago working for the Pittsburgh Housing Authority. He moved on to the Mount Oliver and Rankin police departments then joined the Southwest Regional Police Department, where he previously served as patrolman, sergeant and lieutenant.
One of Williams’ top priorities will be to establish a good relationship with the residents in the communities that the regional police department serves.
“We want people to feel comfortable and call us whenever they have a concern,” he said. “Residents can be assured that we will continue to be visible and keep an eye on town.”
Belle Vernon Mayor Gerald Jackson said the borough, where the department was first started, is stepping up its efforts to fight the opioid problem.
“We are cleaning up this town,” he said. “The drug dealers are on notice that they aren’t welcome here.”
Last year, Belle Vernon installed surveillance cameras throughout town to monitor suspicious activity. Jackson said he occasionally knocks on the doors of houses where a suspected drug dealer lives.
“I tell them, ‘I know what you’re doing. Now get out of town!’ And if see one of the drug dealers cruising down the street, I’ll point at them. They usually get the message and take off,” said Jackson.
Williams said he is up for the challenge of driving out the drug dealers.
“It won’t be easy but I feel confident we will get the job done,” said Jackson, who lives in Braddock with his wife and three children. “We have a good crew and all of our officers work well together.”
In addition to serving Belle Vernon, Southwest Regional Police Department provides coverage for communities in Fayette, Greene and Washington counties.
“Belle Vernon is a great place to live and visit,” said Jackson. “Everyone is welcome here, except the drug dealers. Chief Williams was the ideal person to take over the department because he knows our system and he knows our town. We are excited to have him here.”