The Borough of New Wilmington operates its own municipal police department, which is overseen by the Borough Mayor and Borough Council. The New Wilmington Police Department (NWPD) is led by the Chief of Police and assisted by a Patrol Sergeant, who supervises four patrol officers. All NWPD officers are state-certified, locally sworn officers who have completed the Pennsylvania municipal police officer training course (PA Act 120). Officers also complete continuing education training (PA Act 180) annually and receive advanced, specialized and refresher training throughout their careers. Most NWPD officers have college degrees, some served in the U.S. Military and most have prior law enforcement experience before joining NWPD.
NWPD provides general law enforcement and public safety services to Borough residents, businesses and visitors nearly 24/7/365. NWPD provides pro-active patrolling for crime prevention and traffic safety, rapid response to crimes-in-progress, disturbances, motor vehicle accidents, fires, serious medical calls and other emergencies; and thorough and timely investigations of crimes and traffic crashes/complaints. The Pennsylvania State Police and the Lawrence County District Attorney’s Office assist NWPD on major crime cases.
New Wilmington Borough enjoys a low crime rate due to NWPD’s professionalism, caring and responsible community members and a positive relationship between residents and officers. NWPD also provides limited police services as a courtesy and security interest in nearby areas in Wilmington Township in Mercer County and to a lesser extent in nearby areas in Wilmington Township in Lawrence County.
NWPD provides the following community engagement or crime prevention discussions (about an hour) to interested groups upon request:
- Fraud Awareness / Crime Prevention for Seniors
- Civilian Response to Active Shooter
- General Crime Prevention and Safety
- Criminal Justice System Overview
- Law Enforcement Careers
- Safety for Intellectually Disabled Persons
- Opioid Epidemic
NWPD can be reached at 724-946-8111 for non-emergencies and administrative matters and 911 for emergencies.
OUR MISSION
To provide professional law enforcement and public safety services to the Borough of New Wilmington.
OUR VISION
To be trusted, respected and renown for providing high quality, modern police services to New Wilmington and the surrounding area.
OUR MOTTO
“To Serve and Protect”
Residents of New Wilmington have the right to be free from criminal attack, be secure in their possessions and live in peace. Thus, the New Wilmington Police Department’s motto is the traditional and steadfast law enforcement motto of “To Serve and Protect.”
OUR VALUES
Integrity: Honest people of good moral character doing the right thing
Courage: Coolness under stress and bravery in action for service to others
Compassion: Always concerned for others
Respect: Treating people in a dignified manner and honoring their civil liberties
Fairness: Equal and ethical treatment for all.
Knowledge: Always learning to better serve our citizens
Service: Friendly, helpful and resourceful
Meet your trained and experienced New Wilmington Police Department members:
Chief Eric Jewell (ejewell@nwpd.us)
- Full-time member since 2022
- Mercyhurst University Police Academy Graduate
- Retired Hermitage Chief of Police
- S Army Veteran (Military Police / CID Special Agent)
- FBI National Academy Graduate / PA State Police Leadership Development Program Graduate
Sergeant Randy Russo (rrusso@nwpd.us)
- Full-time member since 2005
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania Police Academy Graduate
- Penn State Police Supervisory Training Program Graduate
- Firearms Instructor / Field Training Officer
Officer Eric Berger (eberger@nwpd.us)
- Full-time member since 2010
- Community College of Beaver County Police Academy Graduate
- S. Air Force Veteran
- Taser Instructor
Officer Justin George (jgeorge@nwpd.us)
- Full-time member since 2016
- Community College of Beaver County Police Academy Graduate
- Defensive Tactics Instructor
- School Resource Officer Basic Course Graduate
Officer Tobias Ochs (tochs@nwpd.us)
- Full-time member since 2016
- Community College of Beaver County Police Academy Graduate
- Intelligence Liaison Officer / Emergency Medical Responder
- Active Shooter Integrated Response Instructor
Officer Frank Jannetti (fjannetti@nwpd.us)
- Part-time member since 2023
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania Police Academy Graduate
- Department of Public Safety Director for an adjacent county
- Chief of Police in another Lawrence County Borough
Administrative Assistant Rachel Singer (rsinger@nwpd.us)
- Part-time (civilian) member since 2018
- Penn State Associate Degree
Some Useful Knowledge to Prevent Violations of Borough Ordinances or State Law:
Parking:
Parking in the Borough is strictly enforced. Please do not park on any public street or public parking lot during the hours of 3:00 AM to 6:00 AM. Do not park on any alley way. Do not park where posted ‘no parking’ or where curbs are painted yellow (safety zones). Do not block fire hydrants, crosswalks, intersections or driveways. Do not block stop signs or impede views of approaching traffic at intersections. If you receive a parking ticket, you have 10 days to pay the fine at the NWB Office. If you fail to respond to the parking ticket, a more costly traffic citation will be filed against the driver or vehicle owner in Lawrence County District Court 53-3-04. Special permission may be temporarily granted upon request for overnight street parking due to construction work, driveway sealing, overnight guests, etc. See NWBO – Vehicles and Traffic/Parking, Chapter 266 for additional information. Your parking cooperation is greatly appreciated.
Speeding:
Speeding in the Borough is enforced through the PA Vehicle Code by way of state-authorized speed timing (non-radar) devices. Please comply with posted speed limits. Most Borough streets are posted at 25 MPH due to road geometry, topography, density of houses and other road and usage factors. Of course, traffic, road and weather conditions may require motorists at times to drive even slower than the speed limit. PA Vehicle Code Section 3361 says, in part, “no person shall drive a vehicle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent.” Simply put the faster you drive the less you see and the less time you have to react to a hazard. Borough streets tend to have more pedestrians, bicycles and more children playing in adjacent yards so please drive carefully.
Curfew:
Curfew hours for minors (persons under 18 years of age) in any public place (streets, sidewalks, parking lots, parks, etc.) in the Borough are 12:01 AM to 5:00 AM. Exceptions include a minor accompanied by a parent, on the sidewalk in front of his/her residence, employment, school event, etc. Unforeseen or emergency situations will be taken into consideration as well. See NWBO – Peace and Good Order/Geneal Curfew for Minors, Chapter 167; for additional details.
Discharging Guns:
Shooting firearms (guns) or BB/pellet rifles in the Borough is generally prohibited unless in defense of person or property. See NWBO – Peace and Good Order/Use of Firearms and Air-Propelled Missiles, Chapter 167, for further details.
Temporary Solicitation License:
A transient retail business license is required to temporarily sell goods or services or taking orders for goods/services house to house (door to door), on streets or sidewalks, and on public grounds. This includes ‘for profit’ and ‘non-profit’ organizations. There are some exceptions to the application fee (farmers selling their own produce, charities, non-profits, etc.). See NWBO – Transient Retail Business, Chapter 239 for further details. Contact NWPD to obtain an application.
Visible House Signs:
First responders (police, fire, ambulance) need to be able to locate your home in an emergency. House numbers must be displayed on the left or right side of the primary structure’s main door where clearly visible from the street. If the sign on the house is not clearly visible from the street, a secondary house number sign should be posted on a post or other monument in the yard that is clearly visible from the street. See NWBO – House Number Signs, Chapter 151 for sign size specifications.
Outdoor Burning:
Outdoor burning is prohibited in the Borough due to air pollution (health and comfort) and safety issues (fire prevention). Generally, burning refuse or any other combustible material (garbage, tires, leaves, branches, etc.) in an open fire is prohibited. Small backyard recreational fires (campfire or cooking) are permitted if they are managed safely (contained, attended/supervised, reasonably sized, etc.). See NWBO – Air Pollution, Chapter 86 for further details.
Disorderly House:
Any home owner, corporation, tenet/lessee, or person in charge of a house that causes, permits, encourages or tends to encourage disorderly conduct that exposes any persons or property to an unreasonable risk of injury/harm, drunkenness, illegal consumption of alcohol, boisterous conduct, unseemly noise, fighting, or other contact which disturbs the public peace or decorum, or promotes disorder and lessens the dignity of the community may be cited with Disorderly House. See NWBO – Peace and Good Order/Disorderly Houses, Chapter 167 for further details.
Animals (Pets):
Per PA Dog Law, all dogs must be licensed, vaccinated, and kept under control (on a leash or secure yard enclosure) at all times. Dog owners or dog walkers are responsible to clean up excrement left by their animal on public streets, sidewalks, park grounds, other public grounds and private properties of others. Pets kept outdoors must not lead to offensive sounds, sights, odors or other nuisance conditions to neighbors or persons using streets or sidewalks. See NWBO – Animals, Chapter 95 for further details.
Trees, Bushes, etc. Creating a Hazard to Traffic:
Per Removal of Traffic Hazards by Property Owner, PA Vehicle Code, Section 6112; “It is the duty of the owner of real property to remove from the property any tree, plant, shrub or other similar obstruction, or part thereof, which by obstructing the view of any driver constitutes a traffic hazard. If your trees and bushes block views of stop signs or other traffic-control devices, views of approaching traffic at intersections, etc. you must remove or trim them back.
