A Mahoning Township resident has asked township officials for more police coverage.

Jeffrey Miller, who resides at Mahoning Drive West, told supervisors last Wednesday he has had numerous problems with his next door neighbor.

Miller said there was an incident several months ago in which he had to use a weapon against his next door neighbor because of no township police officers being on duty.

Contacted Friday afternoon, Miller said his concealed insurance company has deemed that it was a reportable incident because he used a threat level which was a tactical strobe light to defend himself.

Miller told the board that during the incident, he called 911, but no township police officers were on duty, so he called state police and it took three hours for officers to arrive, he said.

“I do not understand why we do not have 24/7 police coverage,” Miller said.

Miller said it made him “very uncomfortable” having to defend himself against his neighbor.

He then blasted township police Chief Audie Mertz, and asked for his immediate removal.

Supervisor Ronald Reeser told Miller that the township’s police officers work four days a week (10-hour shifts).

“24/7 (police coverage), that is not in the books,” Reeser said.

Reeser added that the township hasn’t had that type of police coverage for the past several years.

Regardless, Miller said more coverage is necessary.

“We have a very, very bad problem in the neighborhood that needs to be addressed,” Miller said. “When we are counting on state police coverage, it’s not a solution.”

Miller added that it’s the responsibility of the township to protect its citizens.

Reeser said that when he looks at the salaries township police officers are making, he is not in favor of adding another full-time officer.

Board Chairman Robert Slaw said doing that would require the township to raise taxes.

Reeser said the township isn’t considering doing anything radical.

“We’re not asking to abolish a police department,” Reeser said.

The township has five full-time officers, counting Mertz.

Next year’s police salary is $83,346 per year, which does not include overtime.

The township has an officer that will earn $122,000 this year with overtime.