Conemaugh Township slashes police roster

By PATRICK BUCHNOWSKI
The Tribune-Democrat

DAVIDSVILLE June 10, 2008 10:21 pm

— Fewer police are working the beat in Conemaugh Township today.
Ten part-time jobs were eliminated and one full-time police officer was laid off as township supervisors shaved more than $225,000 from their $2.5 million budget.
Supervisors voted to pare the department on a 2-1 vote Tuesday, leaving police with five full-time officers patrolling a township of 7,300 residents.
The cuts to one of Somerset County’s largest police forces surprised its police chief, who is scrambling to fill vacant shifts.
“I already notified state police ... when I have a vacant shift,” Chief Louis Barclay said.
The cost-cutting comes as fuel, health insurance and heating bills escalate.
“It’s nothing we like to do, but we have to stop the bleeding,” Supervisor Al Zuccolotto said. He recently was appointed supervisor to replace Calvin Gindlesperger, who resigned.
“We used to have only five officers and the township hasn’t changed,” he said. “We need to get back to reality.”
By comparison, Somerset Borough – with about 6,700 residents – has a force of six full-timers and 11 part-timers.
“It’s always a challenge to maintain services,” Somerset borough Manager Ben Vinzani Jr. said. Police costs make up half of Somerset’s $2.1 million budget.
“Council has said safety ... is a top priority,” Vinzani said. “That’s one thing people look at. Is it a safe town to live in?”
The Conemaugh force was beefed up in recent years when the police patrolled Quemahoning and Shade townships and Benson and Stoystown boroughs. The contracts were canceled as too costly for the township.
The township can return part-timers to duty if needed, Supervisor Wayne Kauffman said.
Supervisors Chairman Steven Buncich voted no.
“I would have preferred that we worked out the numbers scheduling-wise” before deciding, he said.
The department now finds itself in a bind. “That’s fair to say,” Barclay said.
The force once had a Special Emergency Response Team, certified truck inspectors and a canine unit.