North Apollo Council on Monday unanimously agreed to drop its one-man police force and contract out police services to Kiski Township. Borough Solicitor Tim Geary said the arrangement is expected to save North Apollo at least $60,000 this year alone — and perhaps even more in the future. North Apollo will pay Kiski Township $35,000 annually for police coverage, compared with the $105,000 the borough had budgeted to spend on its own department this year. With the retirement of former North Apollo Police Chief Jack Wilmot late last year, part-timer D.L. Goldinger was the borough’s only officer. If the borough planned to continue operating its own department, Geary said council would likely need to hire more officers and eventually update police equipment. “It’s the only logical way to go,” said North Apollo Mayor Pat McConnell. Kiski Township Police Chief Jerrod Thompson said adding Goldinger to the township force was part of the agreement. Wilmot, who also serves as chairman of Kiski Township supervisors, said the township would likely hire two more part-time officers in addition to Goldinger. That would bring the township’s force up to six officers, including the full-time chief and two part-time officers already employed. Wilmot said some of the part-time positions eventually could become full-time. “We’ll actually have more people out than we ever did,” Wilmot said. He said the increase in officers would benefit Kiski Township residents. North Apollo officials said the borough’s additional 1,400 residents added to Kiski Township’s coverage area also will qualify the police department for additional grants and government aid. Wilmot said North Apollo’s police calls usually consist of ordinance violations, such as burning complaints, whereas Kiski Township’s calls more often relate to criminal problems such as theft. Geary said Kiski Township will have two officers on duty most of the time. One officer would be assigned to a zone that includes North Apollo, a township trailer park and the Sugar Hollow section of Kiski Township. The other officer would cover the remainder of Kiski Township, a largely rural region. “It’s comparable to what we used to have when we had six or seven officers,” McConnell said. North Apollo Council President Jack Horneman said the new arrangement should take effect this Saturday. North Apollo officials noted they can opt out of the contract as long as they give Kiski Township 30 days notice. A few residents present at Monday’s meeting protested to the lack of information provided to the public about the arrangement. “You’re changing the protection for the people in the borough,” said resident Gene Burns. “Why weren’t we notified• It’s like you’re hiding something.” McConnell said the proposal was presented in March and was only under consideration for a few weeks beforehand. But council members conceded they hadn’t publicized the changes. “I would have preferred we stayed with North Apollo (having its own police force), but that’s just my opinion,” Burns said. McConnell said he plans to draft a letter notifying residents of the change. He said he would remain the borough’s liaison with the new police department. Thompson said he planned to attend the monthly council meetings and would provide reports on police activity both in the borough and the township. Borough Secretary Ed Stitt questioned how the borough should handle its existing ordinance establishing a police department. Geary said once Kiski officially hires Goldinger, the borough must petition the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board to eliminate the existing police bargaining unit. Then the borough can officially eliminate its force. Horneman said the mayor is itemizing the borough’s police equipment, which likely will be given to Kiski Township. He said he wasn’t certain what will become of the police building along 16th Street. Wilmot said Kiski Township will continue approaching Apollo and Parks officials about forming a regional department to cover all four communities. “It’s a start,” he said. Additional Information:

Contacting police

North Apollo residents should continue to call 911 for emergencies. The non-emergency number for Kiski Township Police is 724-478-3357.

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