Consultant outlines possible police force

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TIMELINE FOR BOROUGH POLICE

The following timeline was proposed by Thomas R. King, who was hired by the Lewistown Borough Council as a consultant.

* 2010: Budget $300,000 for borough police department

* Jan. 2010: Begin to advertise for chief of police

* Feb. 2010: Interview possible candidates for position

* April 2010: Hire chief of police; create job description for pair of sergeant positions

LEWISTOWN - Members of the Lewistown Borough Council heard recommendations on logistics and financial feasibility for forming a police department, during a special meeting on Monday afternoon.

At a public meeting in 2008, the council passed a motion, giving itself and its staff approval to seek alternative police services when contracts with Mifflin County Regional Police Department expire at the end of 2010, citing dissatisfaction with current service.

In September, the council voted 3 to 3, with Mayor Deb Bargo breaking the tie, in favor of hiring Thomas R. King as a consultant.

King, who is the State College Borough Police Department's chief, was expected to identify and provide recommendations for all tasks associated with the creation of a police department, provide information on the operation and fiscal practices of comparable police agencies, develop a start-up costs budget, develop a 2011 police department budget, provide a timeline for the creation of the Lewistown Borough Police Department, prepare a written report and present it to the council's finance committee.

Lewistown Borough Council President Jim Felmlee opened the meeting with a statement, in which he clarified that the special meeting was strictly to hear King's presentation and it was not the council's intention to take any action during the meeting.

King spent more than an hour explaining his findings through an extensive slideshow, which outlined a potential budget, start up costs, identified a potential police headquarters location and recommended department size based on crime statistics in Lewistown Borough. King's presentation also included a timeline the council would need to follow if it were to secede from MCRPD and form its own police force.

Felmlee stated that the council has until Aug. 15, 2010, as stipulated in the Intermunicipal Agreement, to notify the other members of the department that it will be forming its own department at the end of that year, if the council opts to do so.

According to King's timeline, the council would have to make a decision within the next month and adopt a 2010 start-up budget of approximately $300,000. In January 2010, the council would need to begin to advertise for a chief of police; in February, complete the interview process; and in April, hire a chief along with the creation of a job description of two sergeants, according to King's plan.

In May, the future facility should be identified and secured for the department, and equipment like patrol vehicles ordered, and in June, the council should begin advertising for six full-time officers, and establish and appoint members of a civil service commission, the timeline states. In July, it should hire two police sergeants and in September begin formulating a 2011 budget for the first operating year of a new department, at approximately $1 million, according to King's timeline.

In October, the two sergeants should begin employment, and in mid- to late November, an administrative assistant along with two community service officers would begin employment, according to the timeline. Finally, in January 2011, six full-time officers and three part-time officers would begin employment.

King's plan calls for two community service officers who could be responsible for enforcing borough ordinances, animal control, parking complaints, lost and found property, non-reportable accidents, traffic control and surveys. King said the community service officers would be the "eyes and ears" of the officers as they patrol downtown areas and work very closely with the full- and part-time officers.

King also suggested the formation of a citizen advisory committee made up of 8 to 10 members of the community who can work with police and council in identifying critical areas of crime.

The council has not indicated when it is slated to take formal action regarding the possible formation of a borough police department.

The council meets on the second Monday of each month and its next regular meeting will be on Dec. 14 at 5:30 at the municipal building along Third Street.