Coraopolis Police Chief Resigns Days After Pleading Guilty To Reckless Driving

CORAOPOLIS (KDKA)- The police chief in Coraopolis has resigned after 14 years on the job.

Chief Alan DeRusso's resignation was unanimously accepted by the borough council on Wednesday night.

Back in August, DeRusso was accused of running a red light at University Boulevard and Thorn Run Road in Moon Township. He was driving an unmarked police car and crashed into a vehicle driven by 36-year-old Kristy Grazier.

Grazier and DeRusso both suffered severe injuries in the crash.

On Friday, DeRusso pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment and reckless driving. He will be sentenced in January.

Investigators say the chief was driving 80 miles per hour, and they found no evidence that he was responding to an emergency. In court, the chief apologized to the other driver.

According to the Post-Gazette, DeRusso will still receive his pension because reckless endangerment and reckless driving are not felony charges.

Acting chief Ronald Denbow has been working as the chief since the crash in August. Council has not formally approved him as the new chief, but they could do it at next week's meeting.

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