Kiski Township could become newest member of Southern Armstrong Regional Police

Kiski Township is free to join the Southern Armstrong Regional Police Department after a series of approvals from stakeholders in the regional force.

The Southern Armstrong police commission accepted Kiski Township’s letter of interest May 20.

Within days, the Gilpin supervisors and Ford City Council gave the OK, meeting the two-thirds threshold of support required from member municipalities. Freeport Council has yet to vote.

Together, the three municipalities make up Southern Armstrong Regional, which formed with Gilpin and Freeport in 2022 and picked up Ford City last year.

With about 4,600 residents, Kiski Township would be the largest community to join the department.

It’s now up to the Kiski Township supervisors to take a vote of their own, likely this month or July, Supervisor Chuck Rodnicki said. He favors folding the township’s force into the much-larger regional one.

“I think we have the votes,” Rodnicki said. “It’s a no-brainer.”

He’s concerned that inaction could lead to a property tax increase.

Kiski Township police are due for a new contract at the end of this year, which likely will come with higher wages and enriched benefits. For Rodnicki, that adds some urgency to get a deal done.

But at least one supervisor doesn’t see it that way.

Supervisors Chairwoman Brittany Hilliard’s skepticism at a merger has hardened into outright opposition after crunching some numbers, she said.

Southern Armstrong officials have pegged the township’s possible savings at $250,000. Kiski Township would pay about $529,000 a year to the regional department, down from nearly $775,000 budgeted for police this year.

Accounting for grants, reimbursements and contracts, like the $58,000 deal for Kiski Township to provide police coverage to North Apollo, Hilliard said township finances will be no better off with a merger.

“I don’t think that there is that much cost savings,” Hilliard said. “We already have a 24/7 department, so there is no benefit for us.”

Kiski Township police Chief Lee Bartolicious told TribLive in April that only one officer is on duty from 3 a.m. to 7 p.m. Joining forces could make two officers available for 20 hours a day and bring Southern Armstrong from 15 officers to 22 officers.

Bartolicious did not respond to a recent request for comment. He is one of four full-time officers for Kiski Township, which has three part-timers.

In the event of a merger, the Apollo-Ridge School District would keep its two school resource officers. Kiski Township’s police station would become a substation of Southern Armstrong.

Proponents of a merger also cite access to Southern Armstrong’s crash reconstruction units, drone program and certified weights and measures officer as a reason to join.

Hilliard said she doesn’t expect to be consulted before a merger comes up for a vote. In fact, she doesn’t want the issue to be decided by the township supervisors at all.

“To be completely honest, I think there should be a referendum on the ballot,” Hilliard said.

She also wants another community engagement session, like one held April 29 at the township building, but with even more opportunities for participation.

“I think it should be held at a bigger venue so more residents can attend,” Hilliard said. “It needs to be properly advertised so people can arrange their schedule and have an opportunity to be there.”

Rodnicki called another public hearing a “waste of time,” though he encouraged residents to take advantage of public comment periods at a workshop meeting Wednesday and the regular meeting June 12, both at 7 p.m.

The go-ahead from supervisors would initiate a process in which the township takes inventory of its police assets, disbands its department via ordinance and strikes a participating municipality agreement with Southern Armstrong, said Charles Stull, chairman of the Southern Armstrong police commission.

Ultimately, he said, the township will dictate the pace of a possible merger, which could be completed in a matter of months.

“As it stands, we’re only past the first step, and the rest is in Kiski Township’s hands,” Stull said.