The residents of Arnold Towers and the neighboring Arnold Manor don’t have to wait for an emergency to get a visit from police.

For about a year, Arnold officers have checked high-rise lobbies, public areas and stairwells of both low-income high-rises along Horne Boulevard.

On Thursday, three Arnold officers, including police Chief Eric Doutt, stopped by to have coffee and a sandwich and chat with residents.

“I tell them to check and ride the elevators and check apartments on the top floors,” Doutt said about the daily patrols through both buildings.

Doutt has mandated that the shoe-leather patrols happen at least once per shift.

“They will also walk past apartments where we’ve had some calls for assistance or problems,” the chief said.

Doutt said the indoor foot patrols benefit the residents as well as his officers.

“We have new officers, and this will help them to get to know people,” Doutt said.

On Thursday, the chief was accompanied by two veteran officers who are relatively new to Arnold’s force. Patrolman Ryan Hanford had worked for 25 years with Tarentum police, and Patrolman Tim Christian, who has been an officer for about 15 years, including a stint in Frazer.

Each talked with residents who took advantage of the coffee and sandwiches, and residents offered to help keep an eye out in the buildings.

The housing authority is also involved in the proactive policing, housing authority Executive Director Michael Washowich said.

“We have formed a great partnership with Chief Doutt and the officers,” he said. “They are doing a lot of foot patrols in the buildings as a deterrent to crime.”

“We are doing this in your best interests,” Washowich said. “Each and everyone of you as residents deserve to live peacefully and for other residents to allow you to live peacefully.”

The goal is to limit building access to residents and their law-abiding guests — which depends on residents because the apartments require access key cards to enter.

There are consequences when the rules are ditched.

About three years ago, there was a drug sweep in Arnold in which eight of 20 people arrested were charged with selling drugs out of the city’s public housing apartments. In February 2015, a man was shot and wounded inside the Towers.

There have been many lesser incidents since.

“Things are much better now,” said Arnold Manor resident Walter Johnson III, who attended Thursday’s lunch and coffee with police.

“There has been an increase in police presence, and I like it,” he said. “There are security cameras everywhere. It’s safer.”

“I like the increased patrols,” resident Angie Monzon said. “Seeing the police is great.”

“There have been lots of problems off and on,” said Corrie Tatusko, who has been a Manor resident for about 11 years. “But they have added the foot patrols, and things are a lot better.”

Tim Lesky, a former Harrison resident who had a leg removed after a traffic accident in Florida, has been a Manor resident for about five years.

“I appreciate the patrols and living here,” Lesky said..

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