Published: February 18, 2008 10:32 am      

Cambria County municipalities scrambling in wake of Somerset County police ruling

CRESSON — Cresson Township officials and communities purchasing police services from them are scrambling to get ordinances in place in light of a Somerset County judges’ recent ruling that Conemaugh Township police do not have the authority to make routine arrests outside their boundaries.

Washington Township and Lilly and Tunnelhill boroughs purchase police service from Cresson Township through resolutions and contracts.

Somerset Judge John Cascio ruled earlier this month that the municipalities must have ordinances rather than resolutions, something he interprets as a requirement by state law.

Tunnelhill councilman Allen Lego said this morning he is aware of the Somerset ruling and will bring it up at council’s March 3 meeting.

“We’ll do what the law says,” Lego said. “I guess we’ll have to deal with it.”