U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr. stands with Kingston Police Chief Richard Kotchik, Kingston Mayor Jeffrey R. Coslett, and Sondra Riviello, Municipal Administrator, with members of the police department in the background during the presentation of a check for $1.14 million in federal funding, which will go to equipment and technology upgrades for the police department.
Bill O’Boyle | Times Leader
U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr. offers remarks on Monday before presenting the Municipality of Kingston with a check for $1.14 million in federal funding, which will go to equipment and technology upgrades for the police department.
Bill O’Boyle | Times Leader
KINGSTON — At Monday’s ceremony to present a check for $1.14 million to the Municipality of Kingston for its police department, U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan, Jr., said every investment in law enforcement and public safety matters.
Bresnahan, R-Dallas Township, presented the check to kick off National Police Week with a news conference to announce $1.14 million in federal funding for equipment and technology upgrades for the police department.
“Our police officers are on the front lines every day, responding to emergencies, protecting families and businesses, and putting themselves in harm’s way to serve others,” Bresnahan said. “The federal funding we secured for the Kingston Borough Police Department will ensure they have the tools needed to keep our communities safe.”
The news conference included comments from Bresnahan, Kingston Borough Police Chief Richard Kotchik, Kingston Borough Mayor Jeffrey Coslett, and Kingston Borough Municipal Administrator Sondra Riviello.
The funding, which Bresnahan requested during the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations process, was included in a funding package signed into law on Jan. 23, 2026.
Most members of the Kingston Police Department attended the ceremony — except the members who were on duty.
“This funding will allow us to purchase equipment needed for us to do our job,” Kotchik said. “We can modernize our department and make improvements that will improve our ability to protect our community.”
Coslett, who noted he is a retired Kingston police sergeant, and Riviello said the funding will be used to make needed purchases for the police department, including vehicles. Both thanked Rep. Bresnahan for delivering the funding to the town.
In January, Bresnahan voted in favor of H.R. 6938 — the Commerce, Justice, Science, Energy and Water Development and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act of 2026.
This package, which includes three of the 12 Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bills, passed the House by a vote of 397-28.
When the vote was announced, Bresnahan said, “I came to Congress with one goal — delivering for the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania. I’m proud that this package does exactly that by funding local law enforcement to keep our communities safe, strengthening our economy, boosting American energy independence, building local infrastructure projects, and investing in the Army Corps of Engineers.”
Bresnahan said he helped secure $6,537,584 in Community Project Funding (CPF) for seven projects in Northeast Pennsylvania.
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Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.