Mahoning Township has brought on a consultant to help its police department run more efficiently.

Law Enforcement Operations Consulting LLC. was hired earlier this year at a rate not to exceed $5,000.

Board Chairman Robert Slaw said last week the move was designed “to help our police department run more efficiently.”

Residents have complained about police coverage, particularly about hours when the department is not working.

Supervisor Ronald Reeser said they are still waiting on a few items, as the consultant’s report is not complete, and they have not met with him yet.

According to LinkedIn, the principal of the company is Robert A. Schurr, chief of police in Perkasie. Schurr is also a Municipal Police Academy Instructor, teaching criminal law, courtroom testimony and demeanor, use of force, history and principles of law enforcement, crime scene processing, criminal investigations, report writing, narcotics investigations, ethics and legal updates.

The firm provides police management and supervision studies, recently appointed chief of police mentoring,

police staffing, manpower allocation and scheduling review, policy implementation and review, use of force review, internal affairs recommendations and guidance, cold case/criminal case reviews and assistance in recruiting.

Mahoning Township resident Andrew Yenser said last week that while the township has solid police coverage during the day, that isn’t the case from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Reeser said that’s part of what the consultant is working on, and that the board is going to take recommendations from the consultant.

Resident Jeffrey Miller said last week he has a concern over the lack of police presence on Mahoning Drive West, where he said a vehicle constantly speeds.

He suggested the township consider putting up some speed traps.

Slaw said the board could suggest that to police Chief Audie Mertz, who was not in attendance at the meeting.

Manpower

He said the township doesn’t have money to hire another full-time officer, and that none of them are in favor of hiring one.

Instead, he said the township has advertised multiple times over the past few years to bring on part-time officers, but to no avail.

Reeser added there are other avenues for police officers.

“Hopefully we have it for the next meeting,” Reeser said. “I will not promise that.”

Last month, several residents appeared before the board asking for additional police coverage.

Resident Linda Pollock told supervisors at that time that she filed a Right-to-Know concerning overtime for the police department.

Slaw told Pollock that Mertz does the scheduling.

Pollock then asked the board how much time in advance officers need to give to have time off approved.

Reeser said that depends on how many days off they’re requesting.

Reeser noted that Pollock was asking about two matters: Overtime and vacation time.

Pollock said she believes the township has enough officers to cover shifts.

She also said officers have accumulated 307 hours of overtime, which occurred over the course of five weeks.

Part-time officers

Slaw stressed the township can’t find any part-time officers to hire despite trying for three years.

He said township hasn’t had tax increases (except for in 2022, when the board approved a 1-mill increase),

Slaw said the situation the township faces with its police department is no different from other departments.

Yenser asked what is the best police coverage the township can get, and wondered if the township was maximizing the coverage that it has with its present personnel.

Reeser said the board is doing all that it can, but cautioned that it isn’t going to happen right away.

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.

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

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

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

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