The resignation of a Muncy Township police sergeant leaves law enforcement responsibility to fall solely on Chief Christopher McKibben.

Additionally, the Sun-Gazette learned Wednesday through a township source that the recently-hired temporary part-time secretary treasurer, Krista Rogers, was dismissed Monday.

“Correct,” said McKibben when asked if he was the lone officer on duty and whether Sgt. James Taylor had resigned as of Jan. 27.

As for the part-time treasurer, the position was only temporary, Supervisor Denise Artley stressed to the Sun-Gazette previously of Rogers’ role as the township needed to meet its payroll obligations for two officers and two road maintenance crew.

Supervisor Terri Lauchle, board chair, confirmed through a text that there was no change in the status of police coverage. She also stated there was no plan to have the state police cover the township “at this time.”

It was not known that Rogers was dismissed at the time Lauchle responded to a request for information on the police status. Two state troopers were asked to attend a recent township meeting without any incident.

Chief: Complaints on cost of police services unwarranted

McKibben explained in a board meeting in October 2025 that he was eligible to retire in August of 2027, having served for 27 years in the township.

In that public comment period, McKibben described his contractual agreement when he entered the program where he set his retirement known as a “drop,” or the deferred retirement option program.

Last year, at a township meeting under the previous slate of supervisors. McKibben expressed his frustration about complaints over the department cost.

“This is my 26th year, and my God have things changed in this township,” he said in meeting minutes. “This is crazy. I can’t wait to retire and go back” to Eldred Township.

“I can’t wait for that day,” he said. “It sucks to say that, because for 25 years I loved working for Muncy Township. But these last two years have been hell. It should not be this way.”

“We have a quiet community,” he said at the meeting in October of 2025. “It is a great place to work, a great place to live. But when we come in here, it is a disaster.”

There were complaints that the department was costing taxpayers too much to remain operational.

However, McKibben, at the meeting, noted how township real estate taxes for 2025 were about $443,580 with the businesses in the township paying $267,736 of that amount, or about 60%. Businesses, meanwhile, that only receive police services, he said, citing an example as those at Lycoming Crossings, the shopping center.

“We don’t plow their roads, cut their grass, or pick up their leaves,” he said.

Of the $267,736, some $230,000 of that money is from taxed businesses that only get police services, not plowing and maintenance, and if adding in the local service (LST) tax from the employees of those businesses, that is $108,000, and that brings a total to $338,000, McKibben said.

What that meant was police expenditures were $268,000 for 2025, and to McKibben it was clear the businesses in the township that only receive police services more-than cover the cost of the police department.

“That means township homeowners’ taxes are not paying for the police department,” he said.

McKibben also expressed concern that the residents of the township attend the supervisors meeting and complain about taxes, but when Muncy School District or Lycoming County raise property tax millage, they do not utter a word of complaint.

“Your mills went up in Muncy School District 2 mills from 2017 until now,” McKibben said at the meeting. “We went up a half a mill — anybody in here go to the school district and complain about their taxes?” he asked. “Nope, nobody. Anybody go to Lycoming County and complain?” he asked. “Nobody in here, I bet you,” according to the meeting minutes.

“You guys should be cheering that you have a police department at 2.5 mills,” he said. “Nobody cheers. You bash us,” he said, reminding those in the meeting that the borough of Montgomery no longer had a municipal police department in favor of having state police coverage.

“There is nobody out there that wants to do this job because we come here and get beat on,” he said. “We get beat up and we get beat up. It is not going to happen,” he said.

“Just realize that. So, when you make decisions, be careful what decision you make because we are here to protect you,” he said.

“It’s not really costing you taxpayers anything to have us here,” he said. “The businesses are paying for it.”