Council tables adoption of Lexipol police policy updates, approves county A‑Team co‑response

Green Tree Borough Council on April 1 agreed to delay a vote on approximately 19 police policy updates drafted with Lexipol, and separately approved a resolution to authorize use of the county’s Alternate Response Team.

Public Safety Chair Mary Caskey (speaker 3) moved to table Ordinance 19‑18 to allow additional discussion with Acting Chief Radneken, legal counsel and public‑safety committee members about what portions of the policies could be made public and how to handle redactions. Caskey said residents had requested access to drafts and asked for a summary of changes; several councilors supported a phased approach but asked for enough detail to understand substantive changes. Mayor Schenck and others argued the Lexipol policies reflect best practices designed to protect officers and reduce liability and urged timely adoption; the mayor acknowledged some policies might be redacted for operational safety. The motion to table carried by roll call.

Separately, Council unanimously adopted Resolution 13‑87 authorizing the Green Tree Police Department to request services from Allegheny County’s Alternate Response Team (A‑Team), a mobile co‑response that can deploy human‑services workers via 911 to assist officers at appropriate calls. Chair Caskey described the A‑Team as a zero‑cost resource that provides on‑site social‑service expertise and sensory kits and can perform follow‑up; the police department will receive related training this month.

Next steps: Public-safety committee will coordinate with the mayor, acting chief and legal counsel to return with a plan for phased policy release, redactions and a summary of major changes before the next council meeting; police will begin A‑Team training and may use the service through 911 dispatch when appropriate.