Published: October 16, 2007 11:35 pm            

Tunnelhill Borough unhappy with police service

CRESSON — CRESSON – As the Cresson Township Police Department expands its coverage into a fourth locale, officials of Tunnelhill Borough say they are dissatisfied with the service provided by the seven-person force.

But township police Chief Chris Sweet and the supervisors who employ him say Tunnelhill is getting the same amount of coverage it’s received every month since inking the deal earlier this year.

“We feel they’re getting coverage. Nothing has been cut,” Cresson Township Supervisor Scott Decoskey said Tuesday. “We have a $150,000 annual police budget and they pay us $5,000 a year for coverage.”

Costs of operating the department run about $25 an hour, which Decoskey said should break down to about a half hour of coverage a day for Tunnelhill.

Tunnelhill is getting more than its money’s worth, he said.

Tunnelhill has been getting coverage from Cresson Township police since January. Township officers also cover Washington Township and last month started patrolling Lilly Borough.

“It’s difficult for these smaller communities to afford a police department, and we’re doing it as a neighborly thing,” Decoskey said.

At one time Tunnelhill, population 400, had its own part-time officer and a cruiser. A couple years ago, it reached a pact with Gallitzin Borough for coverage. When that deal fell apart, Tunnelhill agreed to pay Cresson Township $417 per month.

The deal has a 30-day termination clause and provides for the price to jump to $6,000 next year.

Tunnelhill Borough Council’s complaints outlined in a letter to the township maintain the department is not doing enough traffic enforcement. Officials do not see signs of speeding citations – something Sweet disputes.

“We get up there every shift. Every day we’re up there,” Sweet said. “We respond to calls, we do ordinance violations and traffic violations while we’re there.”

Recently, in what the chief termed a “traffic study,” 44 cars were monitored for speed. Four were speeding and tickets were written for three with a warning to one.

“We see it as one municipality helping another, which doesn’t have a large budget,” Sweet said. “We’re doing our job. I think they’re getting pretty good service.”

There have been no complaints from Washington Township and Lilly officials.

Cresson Township is in the process of hiring four more part-time officers and will soon have three cruisers, the chief said.

        

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