During the town hall, each finalist outlined approaches they said had reduced calls for service tied to homelessness, substance use and traffic hazards.
Michael Trail described forming a multi-disciplinary “North Penn Hub” in Lansdale that meets monthly to triage the county’s most complex cases and coordinate housing, behavioral-health and probation resources. He said the hub initially identified about 12 to 15 unhoused individuals in the borough and then created pathways — including transitional housing — to reduce repeat calls for service.
Trail also said his department secured a grant in 2022 for $135,000 and in 2023 instituted a mental-health co-responder who works daily with officers.
Rich Klauser and Mark Benjamin described similar multiagency and victim‑centered efforts. Klauser said Norristown previously created a hub in 2016 and started a child hub for at‑risk youth that led to a youth‑focused court grant. Benjamin discussed a focused three‑month Atlantic City initiative that used narcotics K‑9s, undercover officers and mentorship to dismantle an open‑air drug market.
On traffic safety, Trail said his town worked with public works to “daylight” intersections by setting stop‑sign setbacks so parked cars do not block crosswalk visibility. Klausner and Benjamin also described outreach to businesses and targeted repeat‑offender interventions for robberies and late‑night crimes.
All candidates said non‑law‑enforcement services often underlie recurring calls for service and recommended formal partnerships to address housing, addiction and mental health needs rather than sole reliance on police enforcement.
The town hall format collected resident ratings of the candidates’ proposals; officials said aggregate feedback will inform the hiring panel.