Win-win
The East Bethlehem Township commissioners deserve some kudos for making a pair of tough decisions.
First, the commissioners announced that after extensive analysis, they’ve decided to disband their police department on Aug. 15.
Calling it strictly a financial decision, the commissioners said they had no choice but to furlough the department’s lone full-time and two part-time police officers.
“We are one of the few surrounding municipalities of our size with its own department, but the realities are that keeping our small police force is economically impossible in this day and age,” said the commissioners in a statement.
“The reality is that our township is a low-income area, and many of our citizens are on a fixed and limited income and we cannot continue to raise taxes to meet our basic obligations,” added the commissioners in the statement.
While that had to be a tough and emotional decision for the commissioners, their second decision had to have ben almost as difficult.
The commissioners announced they’ll be contracting services either from a regional or adjoining police department. The commissioners noted that such a move will not only save money for the township’s property owners but also lead to additional police coverage for residents.
“We feel that this decision is best for our community and best for our taxpayers and residents of East Bethlehem Township. Police service will be provided at even greater levels for less cost. Our citizens deserve as much,” said the commissioners in the statement.
However, it couldn’t have been an easy decision for the commissioners. They could have allowed the state police to take over police protection at no cost to township residents.
That’s a route that’s been taken in the past by many municipalities, including several that are far bigger and much more affluent than East Bethlehem Township, which had a population of 2,354 at the 2010 census.
But the commissioners surely realized that residents are safer with some sort of local police protection. That’s no disrespect against the state police. However, they have a wide area to cover and simply can’t patrol municipalities like local police can.
The commissioners are also probably aware that the days of free state police coverage might be coming to an end. Gov. Tom Wolf has proposed imposing a $25 per person fee for municipalities which rely totally on state police coverage. Wolf said the fee would raise $63 million which would be used to train new cadets.
The fee has been opposed by lawmakers representing municipalities who rely solely on state police. They’ve won similar battles in the past but with the state facing a deficit estimated at $3 billion, Wolf’s proposal might gain some traction in the Legislature this year.
In any event, the East Bethlehem Township commissioners deserve credit for taking the bull by the horns and being proactive instead of reactive. Township residents should be grateful that their commissioners have made such smart and insightful decisions.
As a result of their choices, township residents will save money and will also be safer as a result. That’s a win-win by anyone’s standards.