Published: January 19, 2009 11:09 pm      

Paint Twp. police to patrol Benson

WINDBER — Attention, Benson Borough scofflaws: New police officers soon will be on the beat.

The Paint Township supervisors and Benson Borough Council will sign a three-year contract to extend the township’s police coverage into the borough, effective Feb. 1.

State police have been responsible for Benson since the borough ended its $6,912-a-year contract with Conemaugh Township in November 2007.

Benson will pay Paint Township $7,200 a year.

“We simply didn’t have the money when we opted out of the contract,” Borough Council President Lloyd “Junior” Reed said. “We are back on our feet now, and we want police.”

Agreeing to patrol Benson is a no-brainer for Paint, township police Chief Rick Skiles said. Benson is situated between the township villages of Seanor and Pretoria.

“They wanted someone available on short notice,” Skiles said at the township office.

“We have to go through (Benson) to get from one part of the township to another.”

Paint Township also has a contract with Central City, which pays $31,500 a year for the 24-hour coverage.

“Every little bit helps, financially,” said David Blough, Paint supervisors chairman. “We patrol through (Benson) all the time anyway.”

Conemaugh Township cut 10 part-time officers in June after losing contracts with Benson and Stoystown boroughs and Shade and Quemahoning townships.

Conemaugh supervisors said last month they are ready to add another full-time or part-time officer.