As mayor of White Oak Borough and the civilian head of the police department, I would like to state that White Oak is an outstanding community in which to live, work, shop and go to our schools. We have over 500 businesses, five schools and numerous churches and synagogues. We have a healthy growth in both residential and commercial development.
White Oak has an advisory committee that is working with PennDOT to install a middle lane and to beautify Lincoln Way. We hope this will reduce the traffic problem that now exists. We have 22,000 cars daily traveling this main thoroughfare.
Our police department has been in existence for over 50 years, and council and myself have no intention of replacing this excellent department.
We now consistently solve crimes at rates higher than the national average of 25 percent. This has been made possible by the majority vote of council and working with myself, Chief Joe Hoffman and the police department to obtain grants.
These grant monies have helped the police department to increase its technical and tactical abilities to serve the public as never before. During the last four years, we have tripled the arrests while less crime has been reported.
The police, our borough council and borough employees and myself answer to all residents.
It is my sincere hope that our elected officials and our police will be able to continue to keep White Oak the safe, vibrant and thriving community we have come to expect. White Oak is secure.
The author is mayor of White Oak.
