Upper Burrell shifts from police regionalization to improving its own force

With police regionalization off the table for now, Upper Burrell is focusing its efforts on bolstering its force.

Fifteen months ago, the township supervisors cited staffing issues as it sought interest from Lower Burrell, New Kensington and Allegheny and Washington townships on the possibility of a regionalized police force.

Upper Burrell has two full-time officers — Chief Ken Pate and Officer Vincent Beaver. State police cover the township when neither of them are on duty.

Supervisors said only Washington Township responded to the regionalization proposal, and what they were offering wasn’t what Upper Burrell had in mind.

Chairman Ross G. Walker III said Washington Township was more interested in absorbing Upper Burrell’s department than in regionalizing.

“We’re not going to take steps to move in and be absorbed by Washington Township until we feel like that’s the right thing to do for this community,” Walker said.

Instead, the township will “remake” its department, Pate said.

When pressed by residents, officials admitted it will take time, with the rural township looking at how to afford wages and pension payments for more officers. The township’s 2024 budget covers two full-time officers and six part-timers, Walker said.

Another hurdle is finding “quality people” who would be a good fit to policing rural communities, Pate said.

“Nobody wants to be a police officer today, and the ones that are coming out of the school are being immediately hired full time by bigger departments,” Walker said.

The 2024 budget allocates $414,560 for police and public safety, which covers wages, pensions, equipment, maintenance, training and benefits.

Of that, $130,000 is designated for part-time patrolmen.

The township will look at avenues to bolster the police department during departmental meetings and budget meetings this fall.

“That’s where we’re at right now because that option is obviously off the table with Washington Township and regionalization in general,” Pate said. “So the option we have is to bolster our own force. … That’s my personal preference at this point.

“We have a good thing here with our police department. I think it can be bolstered. If done correctly, it’ll thrive.”