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Police chief reports 269 calls since June and council hires part‑time officer
Summary
Police Chief David Pernice reported 269 calls between June 1 and Aug. 13 (about 3.63 per day), highlighted training and recent mental‑health and suicide incidents, and said grants from the UC Community Foundation will fund four tasers and additional security cameras; council agreed to hire a part‑time officer to increase coverage.
Union City Police Chief David Pernice told the Borough Council on Aug. 13 that the department handled 269 calls between June 1 and Aug. 13, an average of about 3.63 calls per day, and that some responses can occupy an entire shift depending on the incident. Chief Pernice listed call types including vehicle pursuits, protection-from-abuse orders (PFAs), warrants, domestic incidents, drug activity, homelessness-related calls, vandalism and burglary, and flagged recent incidents involving suicide and mental‑health responses.
Chief Pernice said he and Officer Shelly attended Alert Active Shooter training July 24–25 hosted by Millcreek Police Department and described the training as beneficial. He also reported that he applied to the UC Community Foundation for funding for four tasers and for security cameras to expand coverage on North Main Street; the UC Community Foundation awarded both requests.
Against that backdrop, councilors discussed staffing options and unanimously approved hiring Kenneth Fye from the certified civil‑service list as a part‑time officer; Borough Manager Cindy Wells noted the budget had accounted for at least $33,560 for wages and benefits and that part‑time staffing would reduce overall cost depending on assigned hours. Chief Pernice said he appreciated council's approval to add coverage.
The chief's report and the hire are intended to address sustained call volume and long response times on certain incidents. The council did not set a precise hours schedule for the part‑time position during the meeting; onboarding and scheduling details were assigned to the police department for follow up.
