Smithfield ponders services from Southwest Regional police
SMITHFIELD — The chief of the Southwest Regional Police Department attended borough council’s regular meeting on Tuesday to discuss the possibilities of retaining the department’s services.
The police department provides police services to various municipalities throughout the region.
“To provide services, communities don’t have to be touching or even be in the same county,” Chief John Hartman told council.
The police department was formed in 2003 and currently provides services to 10 municipalities in Fayette, Greene and Washington counties, which is equivalent to serving about 16,000 people.
At the meeting, Hartman said he wanted council to realize that the key to regionalized police is “shared services.”
“As you know, it’s very expensive to have your own department,” he said. “But with a regionalized department, all the communities involved put their common resources into one pot to pay for the common services.”
Hartman added that Southwest Regional is currently a member of the drug task force in Fayette and Washington counties and soon will be a participating member of the task force in Greene County. It also has a K9 unit.
If Smithfield uses the department to patrol the community, Hartman said, the borough would be in control of choosing which services are handled, including how many hours a week the police would be on duty.
Also, Southwest Regional would have different police officers rotating through the borough so that not one single officer is constantly on duty.
“Organizationally, it’s not good to have only one officer know the area,” Hartman said.
The cost, however, is to be determined and is dependent on numerous factors.
“It’s all dependent on whether or not Smithfield can get other communities involved,” Hartman said.
Councilman Joe Zorosky asked Hartman how the communities would split the cost for Southwest Regional to provide its services.
The price most likely would vary among the municipalities and would depend on factors, including the number of businesses, population, square miles and the number of calls that are made monthly to the state police, Hartman said.
Once a rate is set for a municipality, it would remain constant during the course of the agreement.
Southwest Regional does not receive any funding from the state.
Whether or not the municipality is policed 24 hours a day, seven days a week also factors into the cost.
“I can say that in areas without 24/7 coverage, there is a clean pass of services,” Hartman said, meaning that the 911 dispatch center is immediately notified when an officer is not on duty.
Hartman said if the borough decided to bring in the regional police department, it would be for a minimum of a one-year contract.
“What if one of your officers makes a mistake? Everybody makes a mistake,” said Councilman Bill Dean.
Hartman said Southwest Regional would assume liability and insurance costs.
“You pay a check, that’s it,” he said.
Dean also asked if the borough would save money by using the department’s services.
Hartman said it would, and added that the borough’s current police car also could be re-used to save money.
Since 2003, two municipalities have dropped the department’s services, Hartman said.
Following the discussion, council President Larry Leech said the information was “very informative,” and council members will take what they learned under consideration.
The borough currently has one part-time police officer, Brian Harvey, who patrols the community about 20-25 hours each week. Harvey rotates his shifts to provide coverage for the area at different times.
In other business and under the motion from Zorosky, seconded by Councilwoman Kelli Ash, council voted to contribute $250 to this year’s Halloween parade, which will be held at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 26. Trick-or-treat will follow until 6 p.m.
In other matters, council:
n Announced recycling to be on Monday, Oct. 28.
n Agreed to look into setting up a website for the borough, which would also include information for various committees and organizations within the borough.
n Announced Light-up Night will be held Nov. 30