Rosslyn Farms weighs police future
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For the second time in seven years, Rosslyn Farms officials are debating whether to retain the borough's police department.
The dilemma is being driven by the upcoming retirement of Chief Larry Fischio, a 34-year police veteran, at the end of August.
In January 2005, then-Sgt. Fischio took over for Tom Gilles, who had retired after being chief for more than 45 years. Officials wrestled then with the question of whether to outsource police services but ultimately decided to keep their own department.
Rosslyn Farms Mayor Jim Stover, who oversees the daily activities of the police department, said economic considerations will weigh heavily in the decision, which will be made by the seven-member council.
"Cost is going to be the driving factor," Mr. Stover said. "That's what the citizens of Rosslyn Farms will have to decide. Is it worth another $1 a day per household to have our own police department?"
Besides Chief Fischio and Sgt. Scott Kercher, the police force also has four part-time men. The borough is 0.6 square miles, has 194 homes and a population of less than 500. It has won the East Central AAA's Gold Award for its traffic safety efforts for the past three years.
To make an informed decision about police service, the borough in early January distributed an 18-page request for proposal document to half a dozen police departments.
They also sponsored a joint meeting Jan. 13 with most of the departments.
According to the document, the contract would run from Aug. 1 through Dec. 31, 2015.
Two scenarios are possible -- the borough disbands its own department and contracts with another community for round-the-clock service seven days a week; or the borough keeps its police force and contracts for emergency response at night and during part of weekends from another department.
First Published February 2, 2012 5:03 am
