JERSEY SHORE - For a little over a month, officers of the Tiadaghton Valley Regional Police Department have occasionally traded in their handcuffs, guns and tasers for paint brushes, hammers and saws.
The officers have been moonlighting as painters and carpenters on their own time to help renovate their police department.
With the help of a few members of the Independent Hose Co. No. 1, which is located across the street from the police station, renovations to the interior of the building have been geared toward freeing up space for officers.
Police Chief Howard E. Dougherty brought up the idea of renovating the station to give his officers a larger work area. Currently, 10 members of the force share a small officers' bay.
"It's going to benefit the officers because it's going to give them space to work and they won't be sitting on top of each other," said Dougherty. "They are going to have a better work environment."
With the new space, only four or five officers will have to share the office bay.
The rest will have desks in a larger room in the center of the station.
Sgt. Shawn Hummer volunteered to spearhead the renovation.
"The chief brought up the idea of doing some renovation work to the department. I went to school for this so I volunteered to do the carpentry work," he said.
Along with fellow officers Sgt. Dennis Gill and Patrolmen Marlin Angelo and Chad Aldenderfer, the painting took about three to four weeks - all of it done on the officers' own time.
Sgt. Hummer, who is also a lieutenant with Independent Hose, enlisted some help from his firefighter brethren to build the frame for a new interview room.
"Shawn asked us if we would help out, so here we are," said Capt. Bob Cowfer of the fire company.
He, along with members Dave Marshall and Nate Hubler, volunteered their time to help improve the department.
"We like to help the community, and this is one way we can do that," said Hubler.
Another firefighter, Safety Officer Adam Wian, donated time to help with the electrical work.
"It shows we are all willing to get together and help each other," said Wian. "The police department and the fire company work hand in hand."
According to Chief Dougherty the volunteerism saves taxpayer dollars.
"The borough and the police department will both be saving money," said Dougherty. "With us doing the painting and the type of work we're doing here, it probably is going to save us several thousand dollars."
The nearly 40-year-old chairs and desks will be replaced, and three new computers will be added to the three already shared between the 10 officers.
The new office furniture was purchased through federal surplus.
"Even though it's federal surplus, we have vastly improved upon what we had for a small amount of money," said Dougherty.
