Dwindling municipal police coverage in Schuylkill County is part of a negative trend. More communities in the area have been leaning on Pennsylvania State Police to provide all or some coverage.
However, next month, Minersville will resume providing residents with 24/7 police coverage, something it hasn’t done since April 2023.
The borough recently hired Cody Searfoss as its seventh full-time police officer. Police Chief Jeffrey Bowers says he worked with his staff to devise a schedule that, with the addition of Searfoss, allows Minersville resume round-the-clock coverage.
“It was the first time in department history that we were not providing 24/7 coverage and a day that I never envisioned seeing,” Bowers says. “The primary factor was the dwindling pool of applicants both part-time and full-time, which is a trend that is affecting the entire country.”
While the lack of police candidates is a national trend, it’s one that’s definitely being experienced here in Schuylkill County. There are more boroughs that can’t provide 24/7 police coverage than ones that can. Several boroughs are currently hiring police – like Shenandoah and Port Carbon – but there’s no guarantee those hires will allow for full-time coverage. Instead, municipalities are relying either partly or entirely on coverage by Pennsylvania State Police.
Bowers says in the past, Minersville relied heavily on part-time police officers to provide that 24/7 coverage. This time, however, the borough is using mostly full-time officers. The borough now has 7 full-time officers on its roster with just a couple part-timers. The chief says providing full-time coverage in this manner will also reduce the amount of overtime hours.
Minersville Police Dept. will continue to provide 40 hours of coverage by a school resource officer to Minersville Area School District.
“It was a collaborative effort between myself and my staff along with borough council, with everyone’s goal to return to 24/7 coverage being the priority. Officers were more than willing to work somewhat unconventional shifts and schedules so that the coverage would have no gaps,” Bowers says. “My guys were more than willing to make any adjustments that I needed, and I commend them for that. It is a complete team effort here.”
Minersville Borough Council President Ian Mahal also praised the teamwork between his board and the police department to provide full-time coverage.
“The increase in police coverage by our experienced and professional officers is one of the many positive outcomes that occur when both police and elected officials work together to provide the most optimal safety to the community,” Mahal tells The Canary. “Chief Bowers and former Chief Combs’ dedications to the community, their officers, and addressing their needs to council has been critical.”
Bowers says, “Our current mayor and borough council fully support the efforts of our police department, and they have made the safety of Minersville residents their number one priority.”
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Fedupconseravtive
January 31, 2025 at 8:54 am
Too bad the northern skooks like Frackville, Ashland and Shendo don’t follow the lead and give the people 24 police.
Fedupconseravtive
January 31, 2025 at 8:55 am
Too bad the northern skooks like Frackville, Ashland and Shendo don’t follow the lead and give the people 24 hour police coverage.