Four Lancaster County communities are debating whether to form a regional police department.
Some Denver Borough Council members showed support for the plan at a meeting Monday night.
The East Cocalico Police Department currently serves Denver, Adamstown, and East and West Cocalico townships. But the municipalities don’t have equal control over the department’s management, or the costs.
“We’re looking to regionalize so that every so that every municipality has a say in it,” says Michael Cochick of the Denver Borough Council.
All four municipalities have been in discussions to start a regional, equally-controlled police department. But West Cocalico supervisors voted not to support the regional charter in March, because of concerns about unfunded pension liabilities.
Some people are concerned the debate could leave them without local police coverage.
“I’m a resident, and with no police protection, I’m not happy to be in that position,” says Nancy Hamill of West Cocalico Township.
The police advisory board will discuss the issue at a meeting in East Cocalico Township on April 23.
