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Push to Regionalize Police Departments in Hazleton Area

Push to Regionalize Police Departments in Hazleton Area - Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at 4:35PM EST

Reported by: Andy Mehalshick
Tuesday, Mar 2, 2010 @ 05:35pm EST
HAZLETON, LUZERNE COUNTY -- Is bigger better when it comes to police protection? That debate is underway in the Hazleton area. There are renewed efforts to form a regional police force there.

A regional police force could become a reality if certain questions are answered to the satisfaction of taxpayers. Those questions include, how much will it cost and will they get better protection?

Bigger is better when it comes to police protection according to supporters of an effort to merge West Hazleton, Butler Township and Hazle Township.

Hazle now depends on state police protection. All three communities must decide of regionalization is for them.

Dan Guydish is Executive Director of the Mountain Council of Governments, which has studied and supports a regional police force. "Municipalities that engage in police regionalization realize they can get the most for their taxpayers dollars by regionalizing versus keeping their own municipal force."

This is not the first time a regional police force was proposed in this area. They all died on the vine because of politics and some people did not want to lose their identity.

West Hazleton Police Chief Brian Buglio says he supports it if it's done correctly. "You're going to have a more professional police department instead of having six separate departments. It’s more professional and better organized."

The possible new police force has been talked about at Amore's Restaurant in West Hazleton. Most here like the idea. Mary Ann Hill said, "I think it will be good because there will be enough people there to go around. It might be more than one or two, if they run into a big problem they have some help."

Next week the leaders of Butler Township, Hazle Township and West Hazleton will decide if they will support a regional police force.

If all goes well a new police force could be on patrol in southern Luzerne County by early next year.
 


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