Union City council hires part-time police officer to bolster coverage

Union City Borough Council voted unanimously Aug. 13 to hire Kenneth Fye from the certified civil service list as a part-time police officer.

Mayor Robert Wolf said maintaining a borough police department is important and recommended hiring a part-time officer. Police Chief David Pernice told the council the department handled 269 calls between June 1 and Aug. 13 — about 3.63 calls per day — citing incidents that ranged from vehicle pursuits and domestic disturbances to drug activity and mental-health responses. “We’re doing the best we can with what we have,” the mayor said.

Councilors discussed cost and coverage before the vote. Borough Manager Cindy Wells told the council the budget had allowed at least $33,560 for wages and benefits and that the final cost for a part-time hire would depend on the number of hours the officer works. Councilor Matt Joyce said part-time staffing would provide additional coverage at lower expense, and Councilor Riley Cross agreed it would reduce overall cost. The motion to hire Fye was made by Councilor Joyce and seconded by Councilor Osborn and carried unanimously.

Pernice also reported that officers Shelly and he attended an active-shooter training in late July and that the UC Community Foundation awarded two grants the department requested: funding for four tasers and for additional security cameras to cover another section of North Main Street. The council did not set a start date in the meeting minutes.

The council’s decision follows an executive session on personnel held at the start of the meeting. No further hiring details or a schedule for the new officer’s hours were specified in the minutes.