Every day that the state fails to properly staff the Uniontown barracks, troopers are put in situations of unnecessary danger.

The term “Fayette-nam” was coined by Pennsylvania State Police troopers assigned to the Uniontown barracks in the 1970s.

The nickname for Fayette County stuck, and it has become a common colloquialism. But the origin of “Fayette-nam” as a concept is nothing to celebrate.

Troopers compared the county to the perils of Vietnam because it was a dreaded assignment for cadets at the State Police Academy in Hershey.

Fayette County was — and remains — a dangerous place for troopers to work.

So why, then, is the Uniontown barracks understaffed by 21 patrol officers?

The barracks is down to less than two-thirds of a corps, with just 40 troopers on patrol. According to the state’s own staffing formula, Fayette County should have 61 troopers on patrol.

Local officials are waking up to this glaring inequity.

South Union supervisors have joined with county District Attorney Nancy Vernon in contacting lawmakers to correct the problem.

“The Uniontown barracks may be the busiest in Pennsylvania, and one of the busiest in the Northeast,” says township Supervisor Robert Schiffbauer. “We can talk about regional, county or a local police force. I’m concerned about police protection now.”

Of the latest class of 120 new officers, Mr. Schiffbauer said, 90 went to Philadelphia and the remaining 30 were sent to other parts of the state.

Every day that the state fails to properly staff the Uniontown barracks, troopers are put in situations of unnecessary danger.

And the county slips further into its bad rap as “Fayette-nam.”

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