(12/21) The recent resignation of Liberty Township’s Police Chief Brand Briggs has thrown the township into a conundrum over what to do next with the Police Department. Should the township continue to keep their own Police Department and hire another Police Chief, while supplementing with the already present part time officers, or should they look to contract with a neighboring municipality?

With the townships part-time officers only working limited hours, the Board must consider the future of the department while offering the township the best, and most feasible, coverage. As originally discussed by Supervisors, the township would have three options available to pursue. Relying on the state police, hiring another Police Chief or tying in with another municipality. Relying on the state police was not seen as a popular alternative, as there are only two state police that cover the county. In regards to contracting with the Carroll Valley Police Department, Supervisors decided to send a letter to the Borough requesting a formal proposal for the cost of police services.

During the December Carroll Valley Borough meeting, the Liberty Township request was not received well by some Board members. Councilman Brice Carr stated that Liberty Township is “looking for how much they can get out of Carroll Valley.” Carr also noted that he “would not want one penny of Carroll Valley’s budget spent on helping Liberty. It’s their problem, let them take care of it.” Other members agreed that Liberty should have included a list of specific needs within their proposal, instead of simply asking for a formal proposal from Carroll Valley.

In order to consider a contract with Liberty, Police Chief Richard Hileman mentioned that an additional Police Officer would need to be hired, which would be covered within the contract cost for Liberty. Carr stated that the full costs of a new officer would need to be included within those costs, including benefits, which could come at a cost of at least $100,000. All Council members in attendance agreed that a letter should be sent back to Liberty Township asking for their specific needs for police coverage, including hours.

A week later, at the Liberty Township Board of Supervisors workshop meeting, part time Police Officer Corporal Andrew Hansen spoke to the Supervisors stating that he “would rather see Liberty Township keep their own Police Department and doesn’t believe the township would be happy contracting with another municipality, because they would not be receiving the service they would receive with their own department. After reading about what the Borough Council member said, it was upsetting to me.”

Supervisor Robert Jackson spoke later in the meeting to the request sent to Carroll Valley noting that through discussions between himself and Chief Hileman, the initial request was not to include anything specific. Hileman recommended the Township send a request for a proposal to get the ball rolling initially. The Board discussed sending a letter back to Carroll Valley including only the budgeted amount for the Police Department, which is $72,300. This number is based upon the 2019 salaries of the Police Chief and part time officers. Supervisor Mickey Barlow also commented that a request was sent to Cumberland Township for Police coverage, however their reply included a minimum cost of $132,000.

Upon further discussion Supervisors and residents in attendance also recognized that if the Township were to disband the Police Department, by law it would be another three years until they could “re-open” the department. This would lock the township into contracting with a neighboring municipality for at least three years even if they decide the service is not adequate or financially feasible.

Supervisors ended the discussion by requesting a reply be sent to Carroll Valley with just the budgeted amount included. For now, the township will conduct interviews with the four applicants for Police Chief already received.