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Police report: radio-tower work, DUI grant pause, new patrol car arrival and discussion of part‑time school resource officer
Summary
The police chief updated council Oct. 1 that one radio tower will be taken out of service briefly for painting and rewiring, a federally funded DUI patrol grant remains on hold for the new fiscal year, the borough’s new patrol car is at the dealer awaiting equipment transfer, and Our Lady of Peace School has asked about a part‑time SRO arrangement.
At the Oct. 1 Clarks Summit Borough Council meeting, the police chief reported several operational updates: a contractor will paint and rewire one of the water-tank-mounted radio towers on Tuesday, temporarily affecting the borough radio channel; a federally funded DUI enforcement grant is on hold pending federal fiscal-year funding changes; and a new patrol car has arrived at the dealer and is awaiting transfer of radios, laptop mounts and other equipment.
The chief also reported that Our Lady of Peace School has requested a part‑time school resource officer (SRO) on an hourly basis rather than full-time. The police chief said the union does not oppose the arrangement and that the school would reimburse the borough for the officer’s hours. The chief proposed that the borough’s finance committee meet with the school principal and Diocese representatives to discuss details; council members agreed to schedule meetings to work out hours and financial arrangements.
Separately, the council discussed a reinstated community-service program from the District Attorney’s office for certain nonviolent offenders who can perform court-ordered community service. Staff said the DA’s office would screen and assign participants and that the borough has previously used such services for painting, park maintenance and other manual projects.
Why it matters: The radio-tower and vehicle-equipment transfers affect emergency communications and patrol readiness; the potential SRO arrangement could alter staffing allocations and budget reimbursements; community-service workers could provide low-cost labor for borough projects but must be assigned through the DA’s office and court orders.
What’s next: Staff will schedule a finance-committee meeting with school representatives to review an SRO arrangement, finalize equipment transfers from the new patrol car when the dealer completes upfitting, and monitor federal guidance on DUI grant funding for additional patrol reimbursements.
