Parkesburg Should Reinstate Police Service. Agree or Disagree?

Here's what Friday's Daily Local News had to say on their editorial page Friday morning about the decision council faces to get in or out of the police service business.

What do you think. Thus far most people I've talked to in town are against reinstating the service. What do you think?

But remember, I'll post your opinion on Parkesburg Today but you have to tell me who you are and where you live. If I don't recognize you or can't validate your address, your comment will NOT get posted.

Here's the editorial. Let me know whether you agree or disagree and why.

Parkesburg wrong to lay off police, cut back services Daily Local News Editorial (January 18, 2008)

Whether it’s Coatesville or Parkesburg, people in charge of public safety aren’t listening: you cannot reduce the number of police. Ask any taxpayer and they’ll tell you the same thing: Raise taxes if you have to, cut some services if you have to, but do not lay off police anywhere. This is not a matter of politics nor should it be. It’s a matter of the safety and protection of people. The City of Coatesville tried it and was met with a storm of protest. These days with the amount of crime — specifically drug-related crime — cities and towns need more cops, not fewer. On Monday, Jan. 21, Parkesburg Borough Council will be making a decision that could cause major problems for not just the borough, but for the neighboring municipalities it serves. Council is expected to vote on whether it will stick to its layoff plan that cuts the Parkesburg Police Department in half and eliminates police services to neighboring municipalities. Also, council will vote on a police union contract proposal, according to Borough Council President David Jones. “We are following through with all of the promises we made at the last meeting. Our promise to the public was that we would give it our best effort to settle the labor dispute, revisit services contracted with municipalities, and also revisit furloughs. We have been doing that,” Jones said Wednesday. First, Jones said council will decide whether to approve a union contract proposal, of which the details have not been released. Then council will decide whether the police department will continue to serve three neighboring municipalities, Jones said. And finally, he said, council will decide whether to continue or abort its plan to lay off 11 police officers. The union said Monday officers are “cautiously optimistic that things are going to work out.” On Dec. 27, five days before the police union contract expired, council held a special meeting and agreed to lay off three full-time and eight part-time police officers. Council also agreed to terminate its police service contracts with Atglen, Avondale and Highland. Officials said the cuts would ease financial constraints, keep premiums down, and help maintain positive relationships with its neighbors because they would no longer be customers. We’re not sure how cutting off police services would generate “love” for Parkesburg. In fact, since then, law enforcement leaders and residents criticized the plan and accused officials of retaliating against police officers because parties could not reach a contract agreement. Under the layoff plan the department would be left with seven officers and its detective would move to patrol. The department would also not be able to participate in emergency response teams or the Chester County Drug Task Force. The layoffs will go into effect Jan. 31 unless council approves an alternative plan Monday. “I can tell you that reducing this force is going to do nothing to benefit the residents of Parkesburg,” said Les Neri, Tredyffrin police officer and vice president of the state fraternal order of police. “The timing came just prior to arbitration taking place … that is something that we do question the validity of.” We urge Parkesburg Borough Council to end this foolishness and not reduce its force or eliminate services. It isn’t about politics, it’s about protection.

Discontinuing Police Service - A Quick Response

While compiling a longer response to the opinions offered Monday night following Council's decision to get out of the police service business, I thought I would offer up this four point explanation I sent to a friend in Coatesville last week, as to why council took the action it did.

Here's what I wrote:

There were many reasons we found ourselves in the position of canceling the police service we provided Atglen, Avondale and Highland. The four primary reasons we took the action we did are:

• Parkesburg was losing money on each hour of service provided and the municipalities were either not willing or unable to pay Parkesburg a rate that at least covered the real cost of the police service we provided.
• We were unable to expand the service to other municipalities like Sadsbury, West Sadsbury, West Fallowfield, etc at a pace that made it an attractive business proposition.
• The initiative never had the support of the citizens of Parkesburg, who like most people, want to make sure they are secure and their tax dollars are used in the most economical and efficient manner possible. Asking the people of Parkesburg to underwrite Atglen’s, Highland’s and Avondale’s security could no longer be justified.
• While the initiative had the enthusiastic support of people at the county and state, Parkesburg Borough received no financial support from either entity to make the harsh realities of providing police service fathomable.

The above summary is a good explanation of my position and my opinion of why council took the action it did. I hope to have a more comprehensive response later in the week.

Parkesburg Police Nab Regional Burglary Suspect

Parkesburg police Thursday evening arrested David Price, a man wanted for a string of daring home burglaries throughout the region.

Detective Davis of the Parkesburg Police Force has been working a series of cases involving burglaries and motor vehicle thefts in our area. As reported in the Daily Local News on Thursday, the suspect brazenly broke into a residence on 5th Ave. while the family was sleeping, stealing credit cards and other valuables. Other jurisdictions in this area have also reported burglaries and similar violent acts. A recent burglary found that multiple guns had been stolen and possibly on the streets of Parkesburg. The state police had approximately 20-plus outstanding burglaries/home invasions with this suspect.

Parkesburg Police Chief Brian Sheller working cooperatively with several surrounding municipalities, put an action plan in place resulting in the capture of this suspect Thursday evening in Parkesburg, after a brief struggle.

The suspect, David Price, is currently sitting in the Chester County Prison on multiple jurisdictional warrants.

Chief Sheller received a call from Lieutenant Naylor, of the State Police, this morning, congratulating Parkesburg's department on the capture.

_________

Here's what the Philadephia Inquirer wrote about the incident in Saturday's edition:

Police nab Chesco man who had evaded capture

An alert citizen, three police officers, and a Taser combined to end almost two weeks on the run for a Chester County man.

Lt. Brian Naylor of the Embreeville state police barracks said yesterday that David Elijah Price, 25, who "has a history of evading capture," was taken into custody Thursday night. Officers recovered a stolen police badge and ID, part of Price's alleged stash from a burglary spree.

Naylor said a motorist recognized Price, whose last known address was Cochranville, and called Parkesburg police. Naylor said three officers used a Taser when Price, who left a van he allegedly stole, started to run.

Price was taken to Chester County Prison on an outstanding warrant for an assault on a police officer in Coatesville, Naylor said. Burglary charges are pending in a number of communities. - Kathleen Brady Shea

__________________________

Here's how the Daily Local News reported the incident in Saturday's Paper (www.dailylocal.com).

Burglary suspect, girlfriend caught

COUPLE APPREHENDED IN PARKESBURG

By JENNIFER MILLER, Staff Writer

PARKESBURG — Police captured the man who allegedly broke into numerous Chester County homes, stole cars and swiped a South Coatesville police officer’s badge. Police arrested David Elijah Price, 25, of Cochranville, about 8 p.m. Thursday after he and his girlfriend were found with a stolen van on the 100 block of West First Avenue, police said. Police approached Price’s reported girlfriend, Brandi Collins, who was exiting the van reportedly stolen from Gap. When they approached her, they found Price hiding in the bushes in front of the Fulton Bank, police said. Price allegedly tried to fight with police, and then officers used a Taser on him, police said. Police then took Price to Brandywine Hospital for examination after a possible seizure and was later released. Police said they were unsure what caused the possible seizure, and that it could have been caused by something Price ingested. Price was arrested for an outstanding warrant for a reported assault on a Coatesville police officer. He is also a suspect in a Parkesburg home burglary that occurred earlier this month, police said. “My officers did an excellent job. Luckily no officers were hurt in the confrontation,” said Parkesburg Police Chief Brian Sheller. Police said the concern with Price’s alleged break-ins were that they occurred at night while residents were at home asleep. Police believe Price is responsible for burglaries and thefts in Caln, Coatesville, East Fallowfield, Parkesburg, South Coatesville, West Brandywine, and other municipalities in the Avondale and Embreeville state police jurisdictions. One of those break-ins happened at the home of a South Coatesville police officer. Police were able to recover the officer’s stolen badge after Price told them he threw it over a fence in South Coatesville. Price likely faces a slew of charges from multiple agencies, including both Avondale and Embreeville state police barracks. He is being held at Chester County Prison on past charges. Price reportedly has a history of fleeing from police when they attempt to arrest him on outstanding warrants. Price is wanted by the Coatesville Police Department for reportedly escaping from officers on at least two occasions and assaulting an officer. Collins, 19, of Exton, was charged with receiving stolen property and hindering the apprehension of Price. She was held at Chester County Prison in lieu of $20,000 bail. Even after Price’s arrest, police continued to urge local residents to keep their homes and cars locked to prevent future thefts and burglaries. To contact staff writer Jennifer Miller send an e-mail to jmiller@dailylocal.com.