Manor Township Considering Police Agreement with Lenape Tech
by Jonathan Weaver
Lenape Technical School may be monitored by Manor Township Police if an agreement is reached with township supervisors.
A trio of Manor Township Police officers could be trained to work as a School Resource Officer at a local technical school as soon as this summer if an agreement between the two parties is reached. (KP File Photo)
At last night’s second monthly meeting, township supervisors heard from Police Chief Eric Petrosky that he and two other officers could attend 40 hours of school resource officer training in Pittsburgh as soon as June.
Supervisor Chair Paul Rearick said the agreement “would be a win-win” as long as the school resource officer duties do not take away from local patrolling and Lenape Tech is willing to reimburse the township for officer wages, benefits and vehicle costs.
“I think it’s another indication that we’re being progressive and moving forward,” Rearick said. “We’re progressive, moving forward and making the entire area as safe as we possibly can without raising taxes.”
According to the National Association of School Resource Officers, a school resource officer works in collaboration with the school to provide a safe learning environment and foster positive relationships with youth. Lenape Tech instructors also have taught students law enforcement skills as part of its Law Enforcement Information Technology program since 2007.
Armstrong School District has utilized Armstrong Lock and Security officers - of Kittanning - as extra security at its local schools since Spring 2014, and school resource officers were utilized in Burrell, Leechburg and Apollo-Ridge school districts at least during the Fall semester.
Armstrong Lock & Security was reportedly hired to monitor Leechburg during the remainder of the current school year.
Manor Township Police has been responsible for investigating incidents during the past few years at not only Lenape Tech, but also at Armstrong Junior/Senior High and Lenape Elementary.
More than 40 elementary-age children were fingerprinted for free last weekend at the township building during a child safety program. Children from both Manor Township and in the general region participated.
In other news, supervisors are still considering ordinance changes to large gathering and grass regulations, as well as adopting an ordinance that would allow the local volunteer fire department to recover costs of expenses incurred by an individual or group’s insurance company.
Supervisors said a similar ordinance to help offset emergency costs and purchase equipment is in Bethel and Rayburn Townships.
Manor Township | jweaver January 26, 2017
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