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Resident raises questions about AR-15s on agenda; police chief says rifles were purchased by regional department
Summary
At a Upper Yoder Township meeting, resident John Klancher pressed the board about two AR-15-style rifles referenced in prior discussions. West Hills Regional Police officials said the rifles were purchased by the department and transferred under an agreement; no formal policy change or sale was approved at the meeting.
John Klancher, identifying himself as a resident, used the public-comment period to raise concerns about police equipment listed on the township agenda, focusing on "the two AR-15s that Mr. ... Miller keeps bringing up," and asking the board either to return the weapons or refund what was paid.
"I really think the right thing for you guys to do would be to figure out something about that for him," Klancher said, urging the board to act so "people that you represent might start having a little more faith in you." The comment came during the meeting’s public-comment period.
Aboard representative and West Hills Regional Police personnel responded that the rifles in question were purchased by the West Hills Regional Police Department and transferred under the agreement with the township. "Those guns were purchased by the department ... as far as we're concerned they were property of the township and they went to West Hills in the agreement we transferred," the speaker said when directly asked about ownership.
The matter was discussed as part of an agenda item titled "sale of police equipment," where the board said it had given a recently formed department up to 90 days to propose a solution for surplus equipment, including body cameras, tasers and weapons. No motion to return or refund the specific firearms was taken during the meeting.
The meeting also included extended public comment later in the session from another resident who raised broader concerns about legal representation and conduct by township legal counsel and local officers; the board responded with procedural explanations and said issues involving personnel or pending litigation would be handled by counsel or separate processes.
No formal directive or vote altering the police-equipment agreement was recorded in the meeting minutes; the board moved on to other agenda items after public comment.
The board’s discussion indicates the township and the West Hills Regional Police Department consider the rifles transferred to the regional department under an existing agreement. Residents will likely watch for any subsequent formal requests or motions regarding the equipment.
