Upper Burrell is looking to consolidate its police department with its neighbors.
Township officials are asking Lower Burrell, New Kensington and Allegheny and Washington townships to take a survey gauging the feasibility of forming a regional police force.
When Ross Walker, chairman of the Upper Burrell supervisors, was first elected 27 years ago, he floated the idea and was “just about tarred and feathered.
“At that time, no one wanted township police to lose their independence, as there are about 2,500 kingdoms (municipalities) in Pennsylvania.”
Now, with more police department mergers occurring in recent years, he wants to see how feasible and desirable it would be to form, say, a “North Moreland Police Department.”
Consolidated police forces can provide better coverage, save money and increase safety, Walker said. A Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) study can determine whether Upper Burrell and surrounding communities can realize those benefits.
Police department regionalizations have been on the rise locally and statewide.
Springdale Township merged with Cheswick’s police department in 2019 to form the Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department, which East Deer then joined in April.
Gilpin and Freeport consolidated last year to form the Southern Armstrong Regional Police Department. Ford City joined that department in January.
Leechburg proposed and is working on a DCED study to possibly regionalize its police department with North Apollo and Parks Township.
About 83% of municipal police departments in the state have fewer than 10 officers, according to the DCED.
The agency’s website notes Pennsylvania has more police departments than other states, and many are “too small to provide a full range of police services.”
“The concept of regional policing is gaining favor among municipal leaders who are faced with stagnant or declining sources of revenue,” according to the DCED website.
DCED’s most recent statistics show more than 35 regional police departments covering more than 125 municipalities in Pennsylvania.
“Most regional police departments were created to strengthen existing police services in the areas of administration, supervision, training, investigation, patrol and specialty services,” the DCED website states.
A DCED police consolidation study takes about eight weeks. Walker wants to know who may be interested; he wants to start the study as soon as possible.
With the process in its early stages, officials from Upper Burrell’s surrounding communities said they have not yet learned the details of the study and need to discuss the proposition.
No one has committed to the study yet.
Upper Burrell also is inviting other communities to contact them if they would like to be part of the survey, Walker said.
“Usually, regionalization costs a little bit less and provides better service,” Walker said. “We have a small department — we’re the smallest of the five departments,” he said.
Upper Burrell’s police force, which includes two full-time officers and up to six part-timers, could benefit from the extra manpower of a regionalized police force as well as other potential benefits, Walker said.
Then there is the prospect of keeping and finding new officers, which has been challenging for police departments, Walker said.
“Not as many people want to be police officers,” he said. “Given all of the violence against police officers, you have to look at that labor market in the long term.”
“With the information I have received, this is a very preliminary survey to see how the surrounding departments will look at this,” said James Morabito, an Allegheny Township supervisor.
Consolidation will benefit smaller police departments with one or two full-time officers and departments that can’t provide 24-hour coverage and don’t have the money to staff a full-time department, he said.
Lower Burrell Councilman Chris Fabry said it’s too early for his city’s officials to comment on Upper Burrell’s invitation.
New Kensington Mayor Tom Guzzo said he received a letter from Upper Burrell last week. He said he has not had an opportunity to speak with other New Kensington Council members or with Walker.
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“Certainly, we will review it and discuss it with our council, our police chief and the communities that are mentioned,” Guzzo said. “I will always do what is best for the safety and best interests of our citizens. Safety will always be our priority.”
Washington Township Supervisor Rich Gardner said he hadn’t seen the Upper Burrell letter on Monday.
Staff writers Joyce Hanz and Brian C. Rittmeyer contributed to this report.
Mary Ann Thomas is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Mary by email at mthomas@triblive.com or via Twitter .