'We received thank-you's': Greensburg diocese has armed police officer in every school

Mar. 17—Police officers who work at schools in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg are serving as mentors to students just as much as protectors.

Members of the diocese force, in its first school year as a private police department, make daily rounds at the 12 schools in four counties while building relationships with students and their families, Chief Ryan Maher said.

"We're very careful on who we put in these positions," he said. "Once they're assigned to a building, they're part of the community. You have the deterrent and the crime prevention, but the mentoring is just as big a part as anything."

Maher was tasked with getting the force up and running when he took the job in July, days after he capped off 25 years as a state trooper, retiring as a lieutenant. For the first few months, he worked through the court process to create a private police department, similar to forces at UPMC and on college campuses.

He got 16 officers on board. And, although the schools are their focus, the department has started accepting requests from parishes for coverage at their buildings for Mass or events.

Diocese Superintendent Nancy Rottler said discussions about school security started in fall 2022. A committee of diocese officials and experts examined options in a diocese that covers Westmoreland, Armstrong, Fayette and Indiana counties.

There are 2,700 students from preschool to 12th grade.

Rottler said the discussion was a result of violence at schools nationwide and suggestions from parents.

"We are the first diocese in the state to have a private police department," she said, adding that some schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Schools are protected by police. "We are the first one to have armed officers in every one of our schools."

The Greensburg diocese officers can choose to be part time or full time. But they all have to be retired from either the state police or a municipal force with at least 20 years of police work under their belt, Maher said.

The 16 officers have full arrest powers and are required to attend annual training sessions.

Officers who are assigned to specific schools have a presence during student arrival and departure and in the halls and during lunch.

Others work the extra duty assignments. So far in 2024, they've had 75 requests for that type of coverage. An officer stood outside of Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Greensburg this past week as women walked inside for Mass.

There are 228 requests to fill for the rest of the year.

"That number's going to keep going up as we go," Maher said.

As the officers get their footing, they could start offering educational resources or presentations for students and families. The force has two cars and the diocese is working with students at local career and technical schools to get them ready for decals.

Rottler said the diocese hasn't gotten any complaints about the force's presence in schools or elsewhere.

"We received thank-yous," she said.

Renatta Signorini is a TribLive reporter covering breaking news, crime, courts and Jeannette. She has been working at the Trib since 2005. She can be reached at rsignorini@triblive.com.