VFW Makes Large Donation to Dormont Police

McCormick-Dorman VFW Post #694 frequently makes donations to foster community betterment, and that was just the idea behind a January donation to Dormont Police Department. 

The VFW donated $3,000 to the police department, allowing the department to outfit its Chevy Tahoe with new equipment.

“The borough bought the Tahoe and lights, but with this money, we’ve been able to outfit this to make it a command-type vehicle,” said Dormont police Sgt. James Burke.

The Tahoe now carries a number of flashlights with battery chargers, an incident board, and a tactical entry kit that includes an ax and wire cutters, among other tools. The equipment will aid officers when they respond to car accidents or other dangerous situations, or when they must be on scene for long periods of time, Burke said.

The street department constructed specially made cases to hold the equipment in the back of the Tahoe. 

The donation, along with a trade-in of current handguns, also allowed the police to provide all officers with new handguns.

The VFW makes frequent donations to the police department and other local organizations, including the borough’s Fourth of July celebration and Friends of Dormont Pool.

The VFW typically helps purchase bullet-proof vests for borough police officers every four years, but this year the organization had the funds to donate a bit extra. 

“This is for the community,” said Quartermaster John Meighen of the VFW. “We try to help the community as much as we can. We often try to help the police, because of what they do for the community.”

Dormont police Chief Michael Bisignani said without the recent donation, it would have taken the police department at least two years to budget for the equipment.

“We appreciate their support,” he said. “They’ve been good partners throughout the years. Especially when money is tight for everyone, it’s good to know we have them to support us and help us out.”

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