A year after discussions started about adding Heidelberg Township to the Western Berks Regional Police force, a study on the possible merger is under way. The state Department of Community and Economic Development study will present several options for police coverage, manpower and ways for Heidelberg to pay for the service.
The study is expected to be finished by January. If all sides agree to a merger, it could be finalized by 2013.
Western Berks was formed in January 2010 when police forces in Robesonia and Wernersville merged. The department has 24-hour coverage, five full-time officers and seven part-time officers.
The department's 2011 budget is $571,500, with Wernersville paying 54 percent and Robesonia contributing 46 percent.
Western Berks Police Chief Scott L. Wagner said he likes the idea of Heidelberg Township joining the department.
"Heidelberg surrounds Robesonia, so it would be a very logistical good fit," he said.
Also, with the merger, the department would cover all schools in the Conrad Weiser district with the exception of West Elementary in Womelsdorf.
The middle and high schools are in Heidelberg Township and Conrad Weiser East Elementary is in Wernersville, with a small portion of the property in South Heidelberg Township.
The Heidelberg department has one full-time and one part-time officer. The township's current police budget is $105,000.
Heidelberg supervisors are considering the merger as a means to increase police coverage, said Chairman David P. Randler. They also worry about a bill in Harrisburg that would charge municipalities that don't have full-time police coverage when they require service from state police.
"More coverage, that's what it boils down to," Randler said of the proposed merger. "Coverage versus cost."
Robesonia Mayor Randall D. Gartner said it makes sense for Heidelberg to join the Western Berks force.
"We had a joint police force with Heidelberg Township for 20 years, and it worked very well," he said.
The department broke up in 1986 over a conflict.
Adding Heidelberg would be a win-win situation, said Wernersville Mayor Edward I. Evans.
The township would get more police coverage and it would give the Western Berks force an opportunity to expand, he said.
"It would be an opportunity to cover the area between Wernersville and Robesonia, which we don't cover now," Evans said.
The study will present several cost calculations based on things like population, property assessment, coverage area and police calls.
Copyright 2011 - Reading Eagle, Pa.
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