Plumstead Township Police Chief and Police Peer Consultant David Mettin, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Department of Economic Development Center for Local Government, provided a free study of Bath’s police services, contrasting the five-year results of service by Pennsylvania State Police and the last five years with Colonial Regional Police Department services.

A presentation providing several options to Bath Borough Council was given at the Feb. 12 council meeting. A copy of the full presentation is on the borough’s website for review at bathborough.org.

Bath Borough Police Department disbanded almost 30 years ago, primarily due to costs. Council at that time opted to use the Colonial Regional Police Department, along with Hanover Township, Northampton County, and Lower Nazareth Township to have police services at a reduced cost.

When costs of being a part of the CRPD escalated to nearly $450,000 a year by 2018, council then considered a police services provider change for the borough.

A number of meetings that included Colonial Regional and state police were held to discuss future policing in Bath Borough. Council was tempted for the change because state police would provide police services at no cost to Bath taxpayers, at a time when borough finances were stretched very thin.

State police services began July 1, 2018. Since that time, the borough has experienced about $2.5 million in tax savings.

As time went on, a group of Bath residents began to complain about state police, saying they felt there was not enough of a police presence in Bath. There were complaints about slow call response times.

Mettin’s presentation data revealed there were almost double the incidents reported annually to Colonial Regional than to state police. Arrests per year were about 15% higher with Colonial Regional. There were nearly five times the traffic enforcement stops completed by Colonial Regional.

Mettin noted crime has also generally reduced the past few years.

Residents who took part in the survey said the state police presence in Bath is not adequate and they are displeased with response times, but they are pleased with the services when provided.

Mettin outlined three options for the borough: remaining with state police, entering into a regional police department contract or developing a Bath Borough Police Department.

Mettin noted remaining with state police is the least costly. Entering into a police services contract with an existing municipality police force would add costs to taxpayers, and starting a new police department might be cost prohibitive, he said.

Remaining with state police for now was his recommendation with efforts to have borough leaders meet with the state police leadership to address residents’ concerns.

The next Bath Borough Council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. March 11 at borough hall, 121 S. Walnut St. It is a hybrid meeting, with both in-person and virtual options. Visit bathborough.org to get the call in numbers for the virtual meeting.