Leechburg police camera fundraiser gets slow start

Chuck Biedka | Friday, December 27, 2019 5:50 p.m.

Chuck Biedka | Tribune-Review

The first Leechburg intersection that will likely get police surveillance cameras will be the entrance into Leechburg from Route 56 across the Leechburg Bridge. Market Street, bottom, connects to Third Street leading to and from the bridge.

A fundraiser to help buy surveillance cameras for Leechburg police is starting slow, but its planners are confident food sales will pickup.

Last summer, Leechburg businesses donated about $4,000 toward a goal of installing DVR equipment at the police station and then connect it to intersection cameras when money is available.

Chief Jason Schaeffer and Sprankle’s Neighborhood Market owner Doug Sprankle hope through sales of hoagies, pizza and brownies at the market to get at least another $3,000 to install a DVR framework. The first food sale netted a little more than $100.

The framework is needed to link and better use surveillance cameras that can cost at least $1,500 each.

The first part of the work has been completed.

2 Krew Security and Surveillance of Kittanning has installed a surveillance camera and a video intercom for the police department door.

Visitors can use it to talk to an officer in the basement office. An officer can buzz them in or walk upstairs to open the door. If the officer is on patrol, a red phone directly connects with Armstrong County 911.

Schaeffer said the department wants to pay 2 Krew Security and Surveillance to install two cameras each at four key intersections, including Third Street, for traffic that drives from Route 56 across the Veterans Bridge to enter the borough or Market Street that connects to Route 66.

The sooner the money is available, the sooner the cameras will be installed, the chief said. He believes the public area only cameras can help deter or solve crime.

That’s where the community can help, he said.

People who order hoagies, pizzas and brownies from Sprankle’s at Third Street in Leechburg will have the entire sale price donated by Sprankle’s to the surveillance camera system, Sprankle said.

As the new year begins, “I hope to get about $1,000 in sales monthly so the work can move along,” he said.

Sprankle’s is selling a variety of hoagies for $7 each. Personal pan pizzas, with various topping options, will be sold for $6 each, and several kinds of brownies will be available for $4.

The sales will continue each month until the money is raised, Sprankle said.

Schaefer is also looking into grant programs.