Mainline communities OK police study

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March 14, 2009

By KATHY MELLOTT The Tribune-Democrat Sat Mar 14, 2009, 11:56 PM EDT

CRESSON — The cost and magnitude of municipal police services in the Mainline area of Cambria County will be getting a close inspection by outside experts in what could be a precursor to a regional force.

Officials from seven of the municipalities making up the Mainline Shared Services Committee have approved letters of intent for technical services from the state Department of Community and Economic Development, Center for Local Government Services.

The eighth, Lilly Borough has not approved the letter, but is not ruling out participation.

“There’s a good possibility we’ll go along with it,” Lilly council Vice President Richard Sweeney said Friday. “It’s something we ought to take a look at.”

After lengthly debate Thursday, Cresson Township agreed to participate in the study while Cresson Borough gave its approval earlier in the week with little discussion.

Approval from Gallitzin Borough came Wednesday, and Sankertown and Tunnelhill boroughs and Washington and Munster townships also have joined.

Cresson Township was viewed as a key to the process because its department provides contracted police service to Lilly, Tunnelhill and Washington Township.

“We have nothing to lose. We are one of the smaller players in this thing, the big players are Cresson Township and Cresson Borough,” Washington Township Supervisor Ray Guzic said Friday.

Cresson Township Supervisor Scott Decoskey said his township police operation is working fine. He has reservations about the study.

“It sounds quite involved. You’re going to dedicate some time to providing the information,” Decoskey said.

Supervisor Gary Bradley said a regional department is something the township should at least look at, and the study will provide that opportunity.

Gallitzin, Cresson and Sankertown boroughs have their own departments. Munster relies on state police coverage.

With skyrocketing pay, equipment and insurance costs, a larger regional police department is something to consider said Mayor Dan McGough of Cresson Borough.

“I think it’s a good thing. We need to do something,” McGough said.

The study comes at no cost to the local municipalities and there is no obligation to follow any of the recommendations, said Rich Wray of the Cresson Area Chamber of Commerce.

Local effort will be to provide the state with facts and figures about each department including costs, manpower and incident detail, Wray said.

The state will assign someone involved in or retired from law enforcement from elsewhere in the state to meet with the local officials, analyze the data and develop recommendations.

The first three months will be used to assemble the data, with another three months to collect and evaluate the information.

The study with recommendations should be completed by spring 2010.

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