Niles mayor calls for increased security at city hall after threat

NILES

A posting on Facebook that may have indicated a threat of violence has led Mayor Thomas Scarnecchia to request the recall of a laid-off police officer to provide full-time protection for city hall.

The mayor plans to present an emergency ordinance before council Wednesday that would authorize the move.

“I’ve never felt this was a secure building,” Scarnecchia said. “We’re making plans to put a camera on the front doors and [those] would be the only way you can come in or out.”

The mayor said residents will no longer be able to use a side entrance, which has been locked.

Capt. Jay Holland, acting police chief, said the post on social media included an “emoji of a gun.”

“You’ve got to take these threats seriously and we’ve got to protect our people,” said James DePasquale, service director.

DePasquale said city employees have been the targets of harassment in recent weeks inside and outside the building.

Read more about the situation in Tuesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.