Schuylkill-Carbon Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 13 President Joseph Fittos Jr. and Secretary Jack Soberick told Mahoning Township supervisors that the organization would file a lawsuit if the police force is merged with Lehighton.

According to Fittos, if the board were to disband the township’s six-full-time officer force, it would be illegal to contract other local municipalities’ police to protect Mahoning.“You cannot contract the Lehighton borough or any other department that is local. You can only get the state police,” he said.State police have been a presence in both Mahoning and Franklin townships for some time, helping to fill in the hours when township police are not on duty.“If you do try to do that, the FOP will be filing in court to fight it,” he said. “We just want to let you know that. It is illegal.”Chairman John Wieczorek said the township considered the shift three years ago, but nothing came of it.The recent suggested change in the departments, Wieczorek said, came after Franklin requested a meeting with Lehighton’s police.“I believe it was initiated by Franklin Township, the requesting of some contracted services. In reference to that, Lehighton remembered our request. They convened a meeting with Franklin and Mahoning, along with borough council from Lehighton,” he said.“There was some simple exchange as to laying out parameters that no matter what happened Lehighton would be the lead. Secondary to that they want to make some investigation into municipalities that may already have contracted services,” he said.Wieczorek said a meeting is expected after Lehighton explores the matter.Ultimately it would be left to the board to decide the fate of the local department. Wieczorek said he was unsure if the proposed idea would help the township. More research would have to be conducted before any decision is made.Soberick highlighted the importance of having a local police force on hand for the township.“Disbanding would be a disservice to your township. Your police are doing a great job,” he said.“It would be a step backward. I understand everyone is strapped financially and the state police are fantastic and provide us every possible support. However they are unable to enforce any local ordinances you might have,” Soberick said.“You would lose that enforcement complicity and again you would lose that interaction and quick response you get from the fine police department.”Soberick echoed the earlier statement made by Fittos, “As Chief Fittos said the FOP is obligated to fight for rights of your officers to the greatest extent that we have to. Hopefully it doesn’t come to that.”He assured the board the organization wants to collaborate with the township. “We are in contract negotiations and hopefully we can come to terms that satisfies everyone.”According to Mahoning Chief Audie Mertz, a television interview with Lehighton Chief Brian Biechy may have sparked the stern warning presented by the FOP.“He was on Channel 13 and said, ‘To be clear we are talking about contracting, not regionalization,’ ” Mertz said.The chief explained that contracting would mean disbanding the township’s department and paying the Lehighton force to police Mahoning. The officers in the township would have no guarantee of carrying on their employment under Lehighton’s service. Both Franklin and Mahoning chiefs could also potentially be out of a job. Lehighton’s chief would face added responsibilities and the potential for a large raise.“The chief from Franklin retires in March,” Mertz said.Mertz says he would support regionalization, which would absorb the officers from both Franklin and Mahoning townships to work with the borough’s force.“If they contract that means the Mahoning police would be gone unless Lehighton wanted to hire them. Regionalization is taking the police and making them one. So everyone still keeps their pensions.”Mahoning’s chief said he doesn’t believe the supervisors would vote to disband the force. “I find it hard to believe they would do that,” Mertz said. “They just put a bunch of money into the force.”In the past year the board voted to hire James Danner as the sixth full-time officer, along with approving several training opportunities and new equipment for the department.“I’m not against regionalization. It has its benefits. If Franklin and Mahoning came together with Lehighton the area would need less state police involvement,” Mertz said.