FALLOWFIELD TOWNSHIP — With the police department scheduled to go off duty for good midnight Saturday, township residents are concerned about the future.

Additionally, Washington County District Attorney Steve Toprani is concerned about the integrity of evidence collected by officers in criminal investigations.

On Wednesday, Toprani received a court order approving transfer, control and custody of files and records of the township police effective noon Friday.

In May, supervisors Earl Sadler and Olga Woodward voted to eliminate the police force when the union contract expires at year’s end. Supervisor Dave Ekves voted to retain the force.

In a Dec. 20 story, Toprani expressed frustration that the supervisors had not reached out to his office with the the police department’s dissolution looming.

Later that day, Supervisor Olga Woodward notified Toprani that the department was ceasing operations at year’s end and requested the district attorney’s office assume control of police records and evidence.

“I’m appreciative that Woodward and the supervisors reached out to us for assistance, and I’m optimistic they’ll continue to support us in handling this properly,” Toprani said.

Chief Steve Kenyon requested Toprani’s office assist in securing the records and evidence, according to the court order issued by Washington County Judge Janet Moscetta Bell.

Toprani estimated it will take about a month to inventory the records and files and expressed concerns about maintaining the integrity of the evidence.

Toprani said he will consult with his evidence panel — comprising local chiefs — about handling the evidence.

He vowed to work with Kenyon to inventory the evidence, adding it could be a lengthy process that is required when a municipality dissolves its police force.

“I’ve had to do this more times during my time in office than I’d like to,” Toprani said.

Meanwhile, residents attending the supervisors’ final meeting of 2010 on Wednesday pleaded for the board to save the police force.

Their pleas went unheeded. Even before the residents spoke, the supervisors advised them that the board would not comment on the police because they are in arbitration with the police union. Since the vote in May, the supervisors have refused to discuss the reasons for elimination of the force.

Resident Bruce Baker told the supervisors he was “shocked” they remained silent just two days before the department is scheduled to expire.

“What do you people think you’re doing?” Baker said. “Can you give me any indication where you’re going with this?”

Sadler said state police would provide around-the-clock coverage.

Baker asked how many building permits the township issued this year. When the supervisors could not answer, Baker predicted there would not be many next year.

“My son is looking for a place, and I told him not to come here,” Baker said. “Why would anyone want to come here?

“You ought to be ashamed of yourself.”

Resident Larry Ambrose said state police took 2 1/2 hours to respond recently when a woman living on Twin Bridges Road called about a suspicious car in her driveway.

“This police issue is ludicrous,” Ambrose said. “Who is going to want to move here when we have no police• No one.”

Ambrose said that through Tuesday the township police had responded to 1,145 calls this year. He doubted state police could respond to that volume.

Ambrose told the supervisors they had a day or two to reconsider the ordinance to dissolve the police force.

When resident Ann Darby asked the supervisors to “do away” with their plans to dissolve the force, Ekves moved to rescind the ordinance. It was the second time Ekves had made such a motion. But the motion again died for a lack of a second.

“We’re not being represented,” Darby said. “The only thing we can do is vote you out. That day couldn’t come soon enough.”

After the meeting, Woodward said the outgoing officers would be paid to attend hearings related to charges filed through year’s end.

Noting the nearly 1,200 calls township police responded to this year, Toprani said while many were “cleared,” those numbers show the public felt compelled to reach out to the township police throughout the year.

“And that’s our concern. Who is going to respond to those calls?” he said.

Toprani praised the state police but said troopers are “already taxed” by their workload.

“I’m hopeful that coverage will be restored to Fallowfield some day,” Toprani said of local police.

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