Police chief reports 269 calls since June and thanks foundation for taser and camera funding

Police Chief David Pernice told Union City Borough Council on Aug. 13 that the department handled 269 calls between June 1 and Aug. 13, averaging roughly 3.63 calls per day, and that some calls — notably a recent domestic incident — consumed entire shifts.

Pernice said the July 2024 police reports showed a range of incidents including vehicle pursuits, protection-from-abuse orders, warrants, domestic incidents, drug activity, homelessness-related calls, vandalism and burglary. He said recent incidents involving suicide and mental health have been especially challenging and expressed appreciation that council approved hiring a part-time officer to help increase coverage.

The chief reported that he and Officer Shelly attended an Alert Active Shooter training hosted by Millcreek Police Department on July 24–25 and called the training "very beneficial." He also said he applied to the UC Community Foundation for funding for four tasers and for additional security cameras to cover another section of North Main Street; the foundation awarded both requests.

Those funding awards will allow the department to add equipment intended to enhance officer safety and street-level monitoring; Chief Pernice did not provide procurement dates or the planned deployment schedule for the cameras and tasers during the meeting.

Council took no separate vote on funding lines during the meeting; the hiring of a part-time officer and the motions recorded in the minutes remain the primary formal actions related to police staffing.