Trending
MONTGOMERY -- The Borough of Montgomery no longer has a police department as of Tuesday after a decision by council disbanded it in favor of coverage by state police.
Reached Thursday, Lycoming County District Attorney Ryan C. Gardner aimed to reassure to the 1,500 or so residents in this community.
"I am hoping that this provides some level of comfort to the residents of Montgomery Borough," Gardner said of the continued coverage by state police who have a barracks in Montoursville and who have responded over weekends to calls when police were unavailable.
Borough Administrative Police Chief Mark Cassel informed the Lycoming County Department of Emergency Services in writing that, on Tuesday, council elected to proceed in dissolving the department, which will no longer be available for calls. Cassel indicated that he will remain "administratively employed" through Nov. 14.
However, council decided Cassel will not respond to or be dispatched to attend to any law enforcement matters within the borough nor as a backup for neighboring departments, according to the correspondence.
Instead, this time will be used for the transition of service and other administration requirements, the letter stated.
Taking a wait-and-see attitude is former borough Mayor Ed Alexander who quit a few months ago after serving in the unpaid mayor's role for four years.
Although no longer a borough resident, Alexander said his main concern has to do with the residents and business owners losing their borough police patrol presence.
"Borough police provided that," he said, adding the chief or officers on patrol were reassuring and that absence may be filled by individuals who do not have similar intentions, as crime numbers tick up including domestic violence, spousal abuse, assaults, burglaries and drug-related offenses.
Previously, borough police responded to all law enforcement needs, he said.
Officers and the chief were in the office, on street patrol, handled noise complaints, outdoor burning issues, parking-related matters, animal issues and general calls to resolve nuisances.
Attempts to reach council or the borough solicitor were not immediately successful by press time.