Two New Police Officers Hired in Heidelberg

Heidelberg has two new part-time police officers.

Heidelberg Council approved the hiring of Antonio Ruiz and Emily Bielewicz as probationary part-time police officers at the June 18 council meeting.

Both officers successfully completed Heidelberg Civil Service Testing and are candidates for full-time status.

Ruiz, a graduate of ITT Technical Institute and the Indiana University of PA Police Academy, also has Spanish-speaking capabilities. He also works part-time for the Stowe Township and Hanover Township police departments. 

Bielewicz is a graduate of Robert Morris University. She has a degree in Social Science and is a graduate of the Allegheny County Police Academy. She also works part-time as a police officer with the Ambridge Police Department and as a Dispatcher for the North Fayette Township Police Department.

“We welcome both Officers Ruiz and Bielewicz to Heidelberg and are confident that they will be valuable assets to the community and the Department,” Mayor Kenneth LaSota said.

The Heidelberg Police Department is an eleven-member police force, including Chief of Police Vernon Barkley, a Sergeant, two full-time patrolmen, one K-9 officer and six part-time police officers.

All officers are state-certified and perform various special roles within the department. The HPD answers approximately 1500 calls for service, and takes more than 800 police reports per year within the borough.

Current Roster:  Chief of Police Vernon Barkley, Sgt. Dennis Dixon, Ofc. Steve Minton, Ofc. Max Bellard, Ofc. Connie Fournier, Ofc. David Walters, Ofc. Leah Vallone, Ofc. Emily Bielewicz, Ofc. Antonio Ruiz, and K-9 Officer Rocky.