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SUGAR NOTCH — Borough council is divided over the future of police coverage.

The community is divided over the future of police coverage.

Even the police chief doesn’t seem to see eye-to-eye with his bosses on issues related to the force.

But one message emerged loud and clear from the men gathered around the council table Wednesday night: Sugar Notch is not looking to disband its force, despite rumors to the contrary that drew at least 30 residents to a heated meeting at the municipal building.

“There was not a thought in my mind, or in most of council, of farming this out or disbanding the police department,” Mayor Bill Davis said.

“I want to give you a 24-hour police department, and I’ve wanted it for the past 18 years,” Davis said.

“We just can’t do it,” he said, referencing the borough’s finances.

The police department budget is about $92,000 per year, out of an overall borough budget in the low-to-mid $300,000 range, officials said.

Currently, officials said, the borough has four available officers, plus Police Chief Jeremy Talanca, with coverage for about 16 hours a day — though they declined to say when, citing safety concerns.

Many residents who attended Wednesday’s council meeting said they felt the level of coverage had declined in recent years, and they are worried the borough is not protected adequately at night.

Councilman Dominick Panetta would like to reach out to Hanover Township to see if their department would be willing to contract with Sugar Notch for coverage.

“I’m gonna go talk to Hanover, as an individual from Sugar Notch, and see if they’re even willing to put it on the table,” Panetta said. “If they’re not willing to put it on the table, there’s no sense talking to them.”

Mayor Davis and Council President Pat Dalton were quick to point out that Panetta would not be speaking for the rest of council.

“Mr. Panetta’s talking for Mr. Panetta. It’s just that simple,” Davis said.

“Have we contacted Hanover? No,” the mayor added. “I have not made the decision, council has not made the decision to join with Hanover Township or talk with Hanover Township. I’m not saying it won’t ever happen, but right now the answer is no.”

Panetta stressed, however, he isn’t looking to disband.

“It was a lot of nonsense posted on Facebook that we wanted to disband,” he said. “We don’t want to disband the police force. We want a police force. Me, myself, I would rather have a contracted one. I’m just looking to see dollar-for-dollar which is the best option for us.”

Chief Talanca, who attended the meeting with his attorney, Tom Marsilio, spoke with the media briefly outside the municipal building, but said he could not speak to issues being discussed between himself and council because they involved both personnel matters and points that have not been resolved.

“There are numerous issues,” Talanca said. “How many officers we have, how many hours they’re going to be worked, how we go about getting more officers, other personnel issues, budgeting issues. Basically, how they feel I should run it versus how I feel. I have to get with them and negotiate how things are going to go.”

The chief was adamant he had not leaked any statements about disbanding the department.

“That’s not true, whatsoever,” Talanca said. “That’s not something that I had wanted and that’s not something that I had heard until the citizens started talking.”

Talanca admitted he leans away from contracting out, however.

“I say Hanover’s a great department, but they’re spread pretty thin. I say keep the hometown department and the service that it brings,” the chief said.

Sugar Notch resident Jennifer Mickle, center, addresses council members on Wednesday night as residents filled the municipal building to ask questions about the future of the borough’s police force. Mickle said she worries that part-time coverage puts the community, including her young children, at risk from reckless drivers and crime.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_sugarnotch-1.jpgSugar Notch resident Jennifer Mickle, center, addresses council members on Wednesday night as residents filled the municipal building to ask questions about the future of the borough’s police force. Mickle said she worries that part-time coverage puts the community, including her young children, at risk from reckless drivers and crime. Roger DuPuis | Times Leader

By Roger DuPuis

rdupuis@www.timesleader.com