District Judge Ronald Arnoni gives back to his community
Bethel Park District Magistrate Ron Arnoni (right) took time out of his busy schedule to attend Bethel Bounty with his family and friends in November. Pictured with Arnoni are his daughter, Taylor, and wife, Kris, (standing) Joan Morton and son, Nick.
Judge Ron Arnoni
Editor’s note: This is the first in a monthly series profiling community leaders.
Ronald Arnoni says he always goes the extra mile to make sure things are done the right way, because that is how he was taught.
He does this on the job as a District Judge in Bethel Park and Upper St. Clair, or when organizing drug prevention programs for teenagers, or conducting seminars about the dangers of technology, helping senior citizens, or even playing in a charity basketball game.
“What I am doing in this job and position can affect people’s lives,” Arnoni said during a recent interview in his office in the Bethel Park municipal building. “I believe in giving back and helping out the community.”
In the 10 years that Arnoni, 49, has lived in Bethel Park, he has become a community fixture, not only serving as a coach for his children’s basketball and baseball teams, but also as a judge who is always ready to lend a hand.
“I could be doing an arraignment, and then a few minutes later be doing a wedding,” he laughed.
Hard work, the desire to serve the public and participate in law enforcement as always been in Arnoni’s blood. The youngest of six children, he worked part-time from the age of 16 in his family’s environmental business, The Arnoni Group, started by his grandfather, Carmine. Arnoni said he began at the bottom and worked his way up from general manager to director of business development.
“People respected me (at the Arnoni Group) because I was not afraid to get my hands dirty,” said Arnoni, who attended law enforcement classes at Duquesne University and volunteered to work security details at various community events while working in the family business.
But, in 1996, the family opted to sell most of the business to USA Waste. Arnoni found himself at a career cross roads. He did some consulting work, but the tug of community service proved too attractive. He ran for council in Brentwood Borough, where he was raised and lived at the time. He got elected. Four years later, he ran for mayor and won.
But, the law enforcement itch was there and needed to be scratched. When he was a child, Arnoni watched his father, Albert, serve as an Allegheny County Special Deputy Sheriff. He said he knew one day follow in his father’s footsteps.
In 2002, Arnoni graduated from the Allegheny County Police Academy and took a job with the state Attorney General’s office in its Public Protection Division. Three years later, in 2005, Arnoni became a special agent in the Bureau of Criminal Investigations, where he worked on white collar crimes and drug diversions, where patients or doctors sell prescription medications to third parties. He also attended the Pennsylvania Attorney General Training Academy, where he received multiple certifications, including Interviewing and Interrogation, in 2006.
“I learned I was a good investigator,” he said. “I was fearful, but I was not scared. I always knew danger was lurking and to be prepared. I was always overly aware of my surroundings.”
Two years ago, however, fate intervened again. Rob Wyda, the District Justice of Bethel Park and Arnoni’s long-time friend, died. Wyda had served as District Justice for 14 years.
“Before he died, he had been thinking about running for Superior Court and asked me if I was interested in becoming a District Justice,” he said.
Arnoni was interested in succeeding Wyda and former Gov. Tom Corbett appointed him District Justice in March 2014. In this position, he handles 4,000 cases a year ranging from criminal, civil and traffic summaries from Bethel Park and Upper St. Clair. Arnoni can also be called at any time to preside over hearings anywhere in the county, he said.
“People respect me,” said Arnoni, who is running for re-election. “I have an excellent staff and I am fair and effective.”
Arnoni and his wife, Kris, are the parents of two children. Nicholas, 22, is studying business administration at California University of Pennsylvania and is a member of the school’s baseball team, and Taylor, 10, is in fifth grade at The Ellis School in Pittsburgh.
“Ron is very dedicated to the community,” said Tom Rigatti, a Bethel Park police officer who serves as the department’s crime prevention and community resource officer. “He always shows up at different functions to help out, which is great for the community.