HACP Commends Contracted Security Guards for Exemplary Service During December Commissioners Meeting

Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) Board of Commissioners meeting, HACP commissioners and staff formally recognized the efforts of five private security guards who provide service to HACP’s low-income public housing communities. 

HACP’s first “Above Baseline Services Awards” were presented by Joy Pekar-Miller, Director of Public Safety. Maurita Bryant, Assistant Chief of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, joined Ms. Pekar-Miller for the presentation.

The primary duty for HACP’s security guards is to uphold the agency’s mission of ensuring the safety and security of its residents. Guards employed by the three companies contracted by HACP are held to a high standard and expected to perform at a high level every day. 

The Above Baseline Service Award is given in recognition of security guards who go above and beyond reasonable expectations for a subcontractor of the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh. This award is provided in recognition of security guards who have provided exemplary service for HACP residents. 

“HACP is very pleased to recognize five individuals who have acted with courage and distinction in their efforts to help keep HACP communities safe and secure,” Ms. Pekar-Miller said. 

Provided below are details about each of the Above Baseline Services Award recipients. 

Jeremy Brentley and Adam Van Houten (of Nease Security) – are receiving this award for their outstanding observation skills and immediate action to detain a suspect after he fired a weapon and injured a victim. On September 5, 2015, Mr. Brentley and Mr. Van Houten witnessed a male suspect fire a weapon into the side of a building at Allegheny Dwellings. The bullets ricocheted and struck a passerby. Mr. Brentley and Mr. Van Houten were able to apprehend the shooter. 

Dante Miller (of OSA Global) – is receiving this award due to his keen investigative skills and sense of urgency when assisting Pittsburgh Police in locating a robbery suspect at Pressley Street High Rise. On Oct. 9, 2015, Zone 1 Police sought Mr. Miller’s help to find a robbery suspect. Mr. Miller provided the apartment number that the suspect indicated he would be visiting; however, he had gone elsewhere. After reviewing previous sign in sheets and utilizing surveillance footage, and working all angles. Mr. Miller was able to determine another apartment that the suspect may have visited. Police were able to apprehend him.   

Michael Miklavic (of OSA Global) – is receiving this award for remaining calm while making a successfully preventing a suicide attempt. On Oct. 22, 2015, the fire alarm was triggered. Mr. Miklavic rushed to the area of the alarm and found a woman with a broken jagged broomstick pointed at her throat.  He was able to get the stick from her and, shortly, after was able to able to restrain the woman after she attempted to jump out of the window from the 10^th floor of a high rise building.

Ashley Bryant (of OSA Global) – is receiving this award for rushing to the aide of an unconscious resident. On November 4, 2015, Ms. Bryant utilized the on-site cameras and noticed someone falling to the ground.  She ran to investigate and performed CPR on a resident who had passed out on the lawn at the Pressley Street High Rise. The resident was revived and transported to the hospital when paramedics arrived. 

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh has contracts with Nease Consulting LLC, OSA Global, and Am-Guard, to provide security services at communities owned and operated by HACP. Our contracted firms work in concert with the HACP Department of Public Safety and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.

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