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Police report details October workload; township enforces burn ban amid record fire calls
Summary
Chief Richard Bell reported 1,626 calls for service in October and that a suspect in a March 2023 Sanatoga Ridge home invasion pleaded guilty and faces 15–30 years. Commissioners have restricted open burning due to extremely dry conditions and volunteer fire companies say call volume is straining resources.
Chief Richard Bell told the board the police department handled 1,626 calls for service in October, issued 103 traffic citations and investigated 34 accidents. He reported detectives identified a suspect in a March 2023 home invasion in Sanatoga Ridge; the defendant pleaded guilty last week and faces a sentence of 15 to 30 years in state prison.
Bell said all candidates who took the written sergeants exam passed; oral interviews were scheduled and he hopes to promote two sergeants before year end. He also noted overtime from recent security details for presidential dignitaries; the department expects partial reimbursement but said it has not yet been received.
On fire safety, Commissioner Raymond W. Lopez said the township curtailed open burning on Oct. 28 because of extremely dry conditions and a high wildfire risk. Fire Marshal Lew Babel told commissioners that volunteer companies are on pace for a record number of calls this year, stretching available resources. Commissioners discussed whether imposing fines for burn-ban violations would require passing an ordinance and agreed to meet with fire-company leadership after the emergency ends to consider options.
The board did not take new enforcement action Nov. 4; Manager Wagner said he would follow up on code and enforcement options after further review.
