Walker Township considers Blythe Police Department in proposal deal

Frank DiMarco, Chief of Police for Blythe Township, spoke at a Walker Township meeting last week regarding a proposal for police coverage.

Blythe Township borders Walker Township and contains their own police department that consists of DiMarco and two part-time patrol officers. In exchange for $20,000 a year, Blythe would cover Walker.

The yearly fee would mostly cover fuel costs, wages for the police officers and wear and tear on vehicles. Eventually, the part-time workers for Blythe will have the opportunity for more hours, which means more coverage for Walker.

“You’ll be absolved of paying for workers’ compensation, pensions, etc. Blythe would cover all of that,” DiMarco said. “You’ll just pay the flat fee, which is low for all that’s included.”

DiMarco also stated that the agreement, if signed, would not be profitable for Blythe Township. He said the agreement would be there to provide safety for Walker residents.

The proposal states that the Blythe Police Department would handle calls for service regarding crashes, criminal investigations, traffic control, animal calls, EMS calls and emergency calls relating to disputes, domestic violence, and serious offenses.

Christine Troxell, then chairwoman of Walker Township, questioned DiMarco regarding GPS systems, as the proposal with West Penn includes GPS tracking.

“We don’t have GPS systems; but as stated in the proposal, you’ll receive a monthly report stating what we did throughout the town,” DiMarco responded.

In the agreement, it is stated that a copy of the monthly report would be brought to every Walker Township meeting with a police officer available to answer questions.”

DiMarco lives in Walker Township and swore to have an invested interest in keeping its residents safe, admitting he already patrols near Wildcat Road every night.

“I patrolled around the other night and checked every business in the area, and it took me only about 45 minutes,” he said.

Middleport and Port Carbon are also partnering up with other police departments and DiMarco said it’s a trend happening to ensure safety and protection in the surrounding areas.

Blythe Township currently covers other surrounding municipalities.

Supervisor William R. McMullen expressed concern that Blythe may be too busy tending to other townships that there won’t be sufficient coverage for Walker Township.

Chief DiMarco admitted it could happen, as officers could be called into court or be tending to an emergency while getting a call for Walker. He stated that it doesn’t happen frequently enough to be an issue and that all police departments experience these types of dilemmas, stating that it doesn’t diminish their ability to patrol and help the township.

Two residents attending the meeting admitted that it’s at night that they want Walker Township to be covered the most.

“I want them out patrolling while I’m in bed,” Larry Bensinger Jr. of Mountain Road said.

Resident Margaret Bensinger agreed and said she thinks protection at night is most important.

“If we’re honest, call volume is low in Walker Township. It’s just deterrence and visibility that’s needed,” DiMarco said.

Troxell said the proposal includes much better coverage than what they have now.

Blythe supervisors already approved the agreement and are waiting on Walker to make a decision. If Walker does not want to sign for a year, the term can be tested and negotiated further to ensure it is a good fit for both parties.

Walker Township is still open to offers from neighboring townships but is mainly considering West Penn and Blythe as of Monday.

Monday’s meeting was Troxell’s last day on the board, and McMullen along with attending residents expressed that she will be missed.