Newly consolidated Tarentum/Brackenridge police force begins patrols

The Brackenridge Police Department has officially disbanded, but its officers will still be patrolling the borough.

A newly minted Tarentum police force, which absorbed the three Brackenridge officers, begins Tuesday.

Both councils voted Friday for shared police services for a five-year trial period.

Schedules, pensions and administrative issues will be handled by Tarentum police Chief Bill Vakulick.

“I think it’s the best option for all stakeholders,” Brackenridge Mayor Lindsay Fraser said.

“We will see an improvement in policing services and the resources that are available to our department.”

Fraser cited the access to county and state money that is prioritized for forces where there are shared services.

She conceded that her role will change slightly, as overseeing the police department is a mayor’s top priority.

“It will free me up to be more involved in community activities and programs,” Fraser said. “I don’t have a vote on issues, but I can bring ideas to council.”

As small municipalities struggle with costs for training and equipment modernization, Tarentum Manager Dwight Boddorf said, he is thankful the consolidation was handled quickly.

He said both councils realized the benefits of combining forces.

Negotiations began in the spring, just months after the on-duty shooting death of Brackenridge Chief Justin McIntire.

Since then, Brackenridge has not had enough officers to cover full-time shifts. The borough depended on help from state police to cover weekends.

Boddorf said the goal is to maintain community policing and have familiar faces patrolling the streets of both towns.

Under the five-year agreement, Brackenridge will pay Tarentum $435,000 plus an annual fee equal to 7% of the police budget, or $39,000.

Two Brackenridge police vehicles will come to Tarentum, Boddorf said.

The department’s entire fleet will be emblazoned with “Tarentum Borough Police Department, Serving Brackenridge.”

Other items, such as body cameras, radios and service firearms, also will be transferred to Tarentum as part of the agreement.

Boddorf said the borough is seeking a $58,000 grant through the USDA to help with the costs of shared policing services.

“It will help us pay for things like extra gear and computers for the new officers, amongst other items,” he said.

Some of the money, if approved, will pay for safety upgrades to the doors at the borough building and police station.

“With bringing three new officers, we need computers, lockers and other equipment,” Boddorf said.

“We are attempting to standardize all the equipment for our officers and get all the costs covered by grants. If we don’t have to pay, that’s fantastic.”