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Police chief warns of failing equipment; council eyes using surplus sale proceeds for AEDs and upgrades
Summary
Police Chief Tobias told council the department's report-management system and body/dash cameras are failing and AEDs in patrol cars are outdated. Councilors suggested applying Municibid surplus proceeds (reported as over $30,000) or fundraising to address equipment needs.
Montoursville's police chief reported equipment failures and staffing conversations to council, prompting members to discuss using recently realized surplus sale proceeds to address urgent needs.
Police Chief Tobias reviewed the April 2026 police report and said the department’s records management system is out of date and cannot be migrated to the new server; he also said body and dash cameras are not functioning properly. Chief Tobias noted that AED units in vehicles are outdated and not working, and that officers receive first-aid and AED training every two years.
Council Member Misty Emick suggested allocating excess funds from the Municibid sale—Mr. Hoffman had reported the borough raised more than $30,000 from Municibid—to the police department to purchase needed equipment. Council Member Mark Tillson proposed fundraising and contacting the American Legion as additional options. No formal appropriation was recorded at the meeting; the suggestion to use Municibid proceeds was made during discussion.
Why it matters: functioning cameras and AEDs are critical for evidence collection, officer safety and public health. Councilors signaled willingness to prioritize equipment replacements but did not finalize funding decisions.
What’s next: Council will consider budgeting options; staff were asked to identify costs and possible funding sources for presentation at a future meeting.
Speakers quoted or paraphrased include Police Chief Tobias, Misty Emick and Mark Tillson.
