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LEHMAN TWP. — A township resident asked the supervisors Monday what more could be done to protect the safety of her family and other residents.

The woman, who did not want to be identified, said her daughter was followed in her car for miles at night last month by an unidentified man. The daughter called 911 and was told by the dispatcher during the 13-minute phone call that the nearest state police officer was 30 miles away.

“Thank God this guy didn’t run her off the road,” the woman said. “It’s a mother’s worst nightmare.”

She said the man began following her daughter at the “rock cuts” on state Route 309 and continued south, following her through the townships of Kingston, Dallas and Lehman.

She said she would call the county Board of Elections office to look into putting a referendum on the ballot for voters to choose whether or not to raise taxes or pay a fee for increased police coverage.

Chairman Dave Sutton sympathized with the woman and her daughter, but said the township can’t afford to provide round-the-clock police coverage. He said it would cost the township $75,000 per year to staff a third shift. The township currently employs two full-time and eight part-time officers. The state police provides coverage for the township when necessary.

Steven Liparela said he has two small children and is concerned for their safety.

“We should have 24-hour coverage,” he said. “I wouldn’t mind taxes going up for safety.”

He suggested regionalizing the police departments in the Back Mountain.

“It’s a long process,” said Sutton, recalling how the vote to regionalize failed in the past when two municipalities couldn’t agree on the color of the police cruisers.

Police Chief Howard Kocher offered the following safety tips if you are being followed:

· Lock your car doors.

· Call 911, tell the dispatcher where you are and keep talking.

· Pull into a well-lit and busy parking lot such as a convenient store.

In related business, the board voted to hire Charles Rauschkolb of Shavertown, as a part-time police officer. Rauschkolb is retired from the Kingston Township Police Department.