The fate of the East Franklin Township Police Department will not be known for at least another month, supervisors said at last night’s meeting.
East Franklin Township supervisors refused to discuss their plans for any changes to their police department.
Supervisor Chairman Barry Peters began the meeting by stating that the supervisors had not made any decisions to disband, merge, or keep the current status of the department. He also attempted to dispel any rumors that have circulated over the past six weeks.
“What you see on FaceBook is not necessarily true,” Peters told the crowd of about 15 residents. “We have not disbanded the police. That is what is on social media, but we didn’t do that.”
Peters pushed any decision until at least the November 29th meeting, stating that the fate of the police department did not have to be decided until the end of the year.
Last month, both East Franklin and North Buffalo townships have submitted statistical information to the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services that is part of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). DCED will compile the information and create a feasibility study of the possibility of a merger between the two townships for police protection. Peters said last month that he doesn’t anticipate that study to be completed before the end of the year.
A similar study was conducted in April 2004 for Cadogan, East Franklin, North, and South Buffalo townships. It was called the Western Armstrong County Regional Police Feasibility Study. The study showed an annual budget of $393,700 and the following staff: 1 chief of police, 1 sergeant, 3 full-time officers, 5 part-time officers, and a police clerk.
Township resident Chris Beck asked Peters if they had a cost comparison of creating a merger. Peters told him he did not have it.
Beck asked Peters if they were going to take input from the public before the decision would be made. Peters answered, “Probably not.”
“I’m sure there will be a lot (of public comment) at the next meeting,” Peters concluded.
After the meeting, Beck gave his opinion.
“I would like to know what the cost differences are going to be. I can’t believe that they are this far into negotiation with another police department and they don’t have a figure.”
Beck said he did not favor abandoning local police protection with dependence on the State Police, but would like to see continuing municipal police protection.