North Lebanon Township officials take major step toward regional police force

Standing in the packed municipal building during a July 9 public hearing, former North Lebanon Township Police Chief Tom Kissinger addressed the Board of Supervisors about the need for more officers in the municipality.

"I recently spoke to a resident who had a substantial theft," he told the board. "He said when he called the officer out to report it, he was the only guy working. It shouldn't be that way. We should have the manpower."

The potential merger of the North Lebanon and North Cornwall Township police departments officials have been proposing since 2023 is the best move to get more officers, according to Kissinger. There would be more cars on the street and additional resources than what North Lebanon Township officials have been able to afford on their own in the past.

"We need to have more people, and the only way we are going to get that is through consolidation," he said.

The North Lebanon Township Board of Supervisors voted 2-1 July 9 to approve Ordinance #3-2024, which formally adopted an intermunicipal charter agreement with North Cornwall Township to form the Lebanon County Regional Police Department. Officials said this is a major step for both townships to potentially form the second regional police force in Lebanon County.

"Back when this all started, I made several comments that I would give my whole heart into this ... we've done that, and we can't find anything wrong with signing this ordinance and this charter agreement," Vice Chair Gary Heisey said. "I feel it's the way to go, I feel it's the future, and I think we should proceed forward."

Officials have proposed a 24-officer force that would cover North Lebanon, North Cornwall and West Lebanon townships. The coverage area, including West Lebanon, would include 26.75 square miles and a combined population of 21,385 residents.

The proposed consolidated departments would be overseen by a five-member commission: Two supervisors from both North Lebanon and North Cornwall, and one at-large community member.

The North Cornwall Township Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance adopting the intermunicipal charter agreement in June. Supervisors from both townships have told the Lebanon Daily News that the number of officers on duty has been a longtime concern for the municipalities.

"The retention rates for these regional forces is much better than the standalone departments for many reasons," said North Lebanon Supervisor Supervisor Arden Snook, who voted to approve the charter. "Opportunity to advance, scheduling, backup and support for other officers (and) so forth."

The aim is to have a consolidated department up and running by Jan. 1, 2025. However, township officials have said they are not locked into anything by passing the ordinance, with options and time still available should the township wish to opt out of the potential merger before it is finalized.

The charter calls for North Cornwall and North Lebanon to split the total cost of the regional force 50-50 if it is formed. Officials included in a previous draft a $5.052 million preliminary 2025 budget for the regional force with the charter draft. In it both municipalities contribute $2.216 million to the regional force.

West Lebanon Township currently receives police coverage from North Lebanon Township Police and would likely be included in the coverage area of the regionalized police force. Officials project that West Lebanon will be providing $91,801 in funds to the regional department.

North Lebanon Township Police Department's 2024 budget was $2.246 million. Officials have said the regional department would be close to $30,000 cheaper for the township.

Board Chairman Edward Brensinger was the only supervisor to vote against Ordinance #3-2024. Brensinger has voted against efforts to regionalized the department at previous meetings, stating that he didn't believe it was in the best interest of the township.

Responding to questions from residents, all three township supervisors said they believe regionalization of police departments is inevitable in Lebanon County.

Residents' comments

Most of the residents who attended the July 9 public meeting told the board of supervisors that they supported a regional police department with North Cornwall Township.

"I see many officers in my line of business ... every one of them says it is inevitable," resident John Eder said. "My gut feeling is you can be leaders and advance, or you can wait and sit on your hands hand have someone dictate to you when you are going to regionalize."

Cheri Grumbine, a former North Lebanon Township manager, was the only resident to publicly voice concerns about the charter agreement on July 9, which included how police officers would be deployed and partnering with North Cornwall Township.

"When you look at the UCR report, and the numbers of crimes and the calls, North Lebanon has always been high," she said. "North Cornwall is willing to pay 50/50. ... Why is North Cornwall so willing? Why aren't their residents upset that they are paying 50% at this point in time? What don't we know? What's out there that we don't understand?"

The North Lebanon Police Department handled a total of 318 calls in June for both West Lebanon and North Lebanon Township. These included five burglaries, 21 thefts, two drug offenses, 11 crashes, 17 domestic cases, five death investigations and 71 traffic arrests.

In May, North Cornwall Police handled a total of 511 calls. Among those, 133 traffic arrests, 18 non-traffic arrests, 17 criminal arrests, made contact with 290 people, issued 82 traffic warnings and 39 parking tickets.

Tom Long, a former North Cornwall Township manager who attended the July 9 hearing, said the call rates for police in the two municipalities are very close. Police costs have always increased in the 27 years Long worked for the municipality, and he said township officials are looking towards the future.

"The world has changed," he said. "These officers are out there now, on their own so many times. I know living in the township 45 years, I've seen the police protection in our own area, the officers going around the neighborhood, drop immensely because they just don't have the numbers."

Regionalized police force: North Cornwall Twp. adopts charter agreement

Since the committee's creation, officials have been holding public meetings about creating the regional force and the proposed charter.  North Lebanon Police Chief Tim Knight said the public support shown at the hearing shows residents see the positives of a potential merger of the two departments.

"I think the public has educated themselves on the matter and brought their opinion," he said after the meeting. "I think they see the benefits to regionalization: Reducing costs to taxpayers, providing a safer community and creating a safer situation for the officers on patrol."

Supervisors said the next step moving forward with the potential regional police force is to continue contract negotiations with the two municipalities.

A copy of the regional police charter draft can be found at the North Lebanon Township website at northlebanontwppa.gov .

Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on X at @DAMattToth .

This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: North Lebanon Township officials take major step toward regional police force