NORTH ALLEGHENY SCHOOL DISTRICT WELCOMES FOUR NEW

SCHOOL POLICE OFFICERS

The North Allegheny School District is pleased to announce the addition of its first four school police officers to its growing police department. These dedicated officers will work collaboratively with school administrators, staff, students, and the community to ensure a safe and positive learning environment for all. The Board of School Directors approved the appointments at their March 27 Regular Meeting.

North Allegheny School Police Officers Greg Walton, Eric Sipes, Steve Liston, Chief Eric Harpster, and Brian Hoebel

The new North Allegheny School Police Officers are:

• Officer Brian Hoebel—Officer Hoebel brings a unique combination of skills to the North Allegheny School Police Department. As a certified Pennsylvania State Municipal Police Officer, he excelled at the Police Academy, graduating as the Top Cadet, and subsequently served the Borough of Sharpsburg for 15 years, earning numerous commendations. As the department's Juvenile Investigations Officer, he championed the safety of young people, specializing in cases involving families, domestic violence, sexual assault, and dependency/delinquency. Officer Hoebel's dedication to public service extends beyond law enforcement. He is a firefighter and also a state-certified paramedic with experience in both hospital and prehospital emergency response. 

• Officer Eric Sipes—Officer Sipes boasts a distinguished 25-year career with the Pennsylvania State Police. A graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania's Municipal Police Officer Training program, he honed his skills at the Castle Shannon Police Department before joining the State Police in 1994. Throughout his tenure, Officer Sipes served at eight different stations, gaining a comprehensive understanding of law enforcement statewide. He is passionate about youth outreach, having dedicated several years to the State Police Camp Cadet program. This program introduced young people to various aspects of law enforcement, fostering positive interactions with the community. Officer Sipes brings his extensive experience and commitment to the North Allegheny Police Department after recently serving as a School Police Officer at the Butler Area School District for approximately five years.

• Officer Steve Liston—Officer Liston will be joining us from his most recent position as a School Police Officer in the Mars Area School District. During his time in Mars, he fostered a culture of safety and respect in his schools. Officer Liston graduated from the Pennsylvania State Police Academy in May 1998. Upon graduation, he worked for ten years as a State Trooper as a patrol officer. He then moved on to be a Criminal Investigator for four years with the State Police. For the last ten years, he was a member of the prestigious Fugitive Apprehension Unit and was assigned to the United States Marshal Service. As a requirement of this assignment, he was deputized as a Special Deputy United States Marshal

• Officer Greg Walton—Officer Walton joins North Allegheny after serving as a School Police Officer at the Butler Area School District for eight years. Prior to his time in Butler, he spent 25 years as a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper, with 14 years as a Drug Investigator/Vice Officer, and was responsible for conducting complex and undercover investigations into drug offenses and drug organizations. He was deputized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Agency for investigations in federal cases. He was then promoted and spent the last six years as a Patrol Supervisor until leaving the Pennsylvania State Police in 2014.

“The safety and security of our students is our top priority,” said Dr. Brendan Hyland, Superintendent of Schools for North Allegheny. “These new officers bring a wealth of experience and a commitment to building trust with our school communities. We are confident they will play a vital role in adding to a positive learning environment for all. We are just getting started, and our intention is to have a fully staffed department for the start of the next school year.” 

According to Police Chief Harpster, the new officers will begin on or about April 15, 2024, at Carson, Ingomar, and Marshall Middle Schools, and at North Allegheny Intermediate High School. The Chief said, "The most important role of the school police officer is the safety and security of our students, staff, and visitors at North Allegheny. The second priority is to develop positive relationships in our schools and in our district. I am confident our new officers will make the District proud and will be the foundation of something special in North Allegheny." 

To learn more about each officer, you can visit the NA School Police webpage.

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