Saint Clair Police Running “On the Rims” Due to Lack of Manpower

Saint Clair’s Police Dept. is running low on manpower.

It’s a problem plaguing many municipalities in Schuylkill County. And on Tuesday, Acting Chief Brad Blanner alerted Borough Council members that his roster of officers is getting thin.

“The police department is on the rims,” Blanner said.

The Acting Chief – who was appointed to that role a few months ago to spell Chief William Dempsey, who is out of action on Heart and Lung Act leave – said he’s currently at four full-time officers

Blanner said he expects to lose an officer next month to another job but hopes to have a part-timer accept a job in the coming weeks. He added that Saint Clair has been operating with one officer on duty for a lot of shifts to be able to provide 24-7 service.

“We’re holding it together. One day we may not be able to hold it together,” Blanner said. “We’re going day-to-day on the schedule to make sure someone is on 24-7-365. We’re getting through it.”

There may be at least a glimmer of hope that Saint Clair could replenish its roster a little bit in the near future.

The borough recently advertised job openings on its police force. Blanner said just two applied and later this month, they’ll be undergoing a physical test, the first step in the process to landing a job on the force.

“It seems to be impossible to find people who want to work,” Blanner said.

In addition to its own municipality, Saint Clair Police also provide coverage to East Norwegian Township and Palo Alto.

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