At their monthly meeting Monday, supervisors in Forward Township voted unanimously to disband their police department. The Mon Valley municipality of about 3,000 people had four full-time offices and three part-time officers.

The department was disbanded as of midnight Tuesday.

According to a Facebook post from the Forward Township police department, the reasons behind the disbandment vote were funding and staffing shortages.

“We are surprised and saddened at this turn of events,” the department wrote on Facebook.

Police departments across Pennsylvania have faced struggles as of late in filling department positions, particularly those in small municipalities. Leechburg police Chief Jason Schaeffer said last November that over a month-long period, five of his officers resigned for jobs in other departments with better pay.

Tribune-Review news partner WPXI reports that Forward Township has entered into an agreement with neighboring Elizabeth Borough to have their officers assume police services, saying there will be no gap in services.

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