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An aggressive program to combat petty and nuisance crimes is designed to improve the quality of life and make people feel safer in their homes, Mayor Mike Cherepko and Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr. said yesterday.

At a press conference at McKee's Point Cafe, Cherepko, Zappala and city police Chief Bryan Washowich announced that during 12 sweeps involving multiple law-enforcement agencies, more than 100 people have been arrested on charges such as drug possession, trespassing and loitering as part of a concerted effort to take back McKeesport's streets.

"Rudy Giuliani started cleaning up New York City with this kind of approach," Zappala said. "We are trying to send a message that even nuisance-level crimes will not be tolerated."

The program --- being run through the Allegheny County District Attorney's Narcotics Enforcement Team, or DANET --- is only a few months old, and Zappala and Cherepko acknowledged that there are no statistics yet to prove that program is lowering the crime rate.

But the initial feedback from residents and community leaders has been "nothing but positive," Cherepko said.

"What we're hearing about is a reduction in the fear of crime," Washowich said.

Besides improving quality-of-life, Zappala described the effort as an economic development campaign. "You can't do anything as an elected official if it's not safe," he said. "You can't bring businesses down here, you can't get people to invest."

. . .

In addition to McKeesport police, agents from the district attorney's office and Allegheny County probation and parole officers as well as troopers the state police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement are participating in the unannounced sweeps. "When the McKeesport PD roll up on a bad situation, they used to be out-numbered," Zappala said. "Not any more."

The BLCE is involved because the sweeps have identified 34 bars, taverns and clubs which have a reputation for attracting crime. Zappala said the establishments haven't yet been targeted for closing as "nuisance bars," but the owners and employees have been warned.

Areas of focus include those that have been the subject of repeated complaints to the mayor's office or city police. In some cases, police have targeted streets where they've gotten complaints about gang activity, Washowich said.

Neighborhoods targeted have included Crawford Village and Harrison Village, Bailie Avenue and parts of the Seventh Ward, Cherepko said, but "there's not an area of McKeesport we haven't hit at one time or another."

"Truthfully, when you're talking about a city of five square miles, you can't really talk about neighborhoods, because it's a problem for the entire city," he said. "People need to feel safe to sit on their porch or drive through on their way home."

. . .

During these "crime suppression" details, teams of police officers sweep through neighborhoods where suspicious activity has been reported.

"We conduct field interviews and ask people their business, and why we're there," Washowich said. "We tell them that we've received numerous complaints about criminal activity, and we want to know their business."

Not everyone is "rousted" by the police, said state Sen. Jim Brewster, McKeesport Democrat, who has gone on some of the details, because not everyone seen loitering is a criminal. Sometimes, people are simply "hanging out," he said, and they don't realize they're intimidating their neighbors.

"Often times, people assume that anyone they see hanging around must be doing something wrong," Brewster said. "A lot of times, we tell (loiterers) that, and they say, 'Oh, I never thought of that before.'"

. . .

Ultimately, the city is trying to send a clear message that "this is not the place to be if you want to commit a crime," Brewster said.

The message has to be especially imprinted on young people, said Cherepko, a former teacher in the McKeesport Area School District, who been disheartened to see how many names and faces he has recognized among the suspects arrested.

These crime suppression efforts are being funded through Zappala's office and have no impact on McKeesport's budget, the mayor said. "We're very grateful to have this collaboration with Zappala's office," Cherepko said. "Without their help, we would not be able to do this."

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