Point Marion to talk to Southwest Regional PD about coverage
POINT MARION — After several months without a police department, council authorized its solicitor to look into the possibility of contracting with Southwest Regional police department to meet the law enforcement needs of the community.
Solicitor Gene Grimm said at Wednesday’s council meeting that state law allows communities to join in use of regional police departments. Officials said the move was prompted by a letter received recently from the regional policing agency saying it had come to their attention that the borough was without a police department. The letter invited the borough to talk with them about the services they provide.
The borough’s police department was closed in September following the settlement of back-to-back federal lawsuits alleging civil rights violations. The borough has since been unable to secure the liability insurance necessary to operate a police department at a rate it can afford.
Based in Belle Vernon, Southwest Regional police charges communities an hourly rate, and can offer discounts to communities that supply their own police vehicles, Grimm said. Plus, they carry their own insurance.
John D. Hartman, chief of Southwest Regional police, confirmed Thursday that he has spoken to officials from five Fayette County municipalities, including Point Marion, about contracting with his department for police coverage. In October, Hartman also spoke to Smithfield about providing coverage. The department spans areas in Fayette, Greene and Washington counties and provides coverage in 10 municipalities.
A decade ago, Hartman began working to provide police service for Belle Vernon and Newell under the banner of Southwest Regional police with a complement of six officers and one police car.
Now, Hartman has 20 police officers at his disposal, maintains a fleet of 10 patrol vehicles and still covers Belle Vernon and Newell.
He said that regional policing is now becoming the norm.
“It is a process that is proven. It can work and it does work,” Hartman said.
“Municipalities start to consolidate resources, pool their money, and all of a sudden a service can be provided that wasn’t available before.”
In other matters, council:
— instructed Art Strimel, borough manager and treasurer, to write letters of appreciation to members of the borough’s road crew, who have started work as early as 5:30 a.m. to clear roads of snow.
— authorized Strimel to contact two companies and recommend one to remove five trees along Park Street.
Which one is recommended for the job, not to exceed $4,000, will be determined by which is best able to meet the borough’s scheduling needs.
— agreed to hire Green Acres Fencing to erect rail guard rails along a 280-foot-stretch of Penn Street for a total cost of $4,536 once the five trees are removed.
蘑菇视频 reporter Josh Krysak contributed to this report.