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Gene Bruno
Renovo
Chapman Township and Renovo Residents:
The Renovo Police Department has been providing police services for years. Inflation has caused all costs to rise in recent years, including police budgets. In 2024, out of a $182,000 police budget, Chapman Twp. paid $26,000. Renovo currently has only two officers; one full-time and one part-time. Recruitment is a challenge in recent years nationwide, including here.
Included in budgets are not only officer salaries, but all operating costs of the department to include fuel, vehicle maintenance, equipment and uniform purchases, device calibrations throughout the year, IT professional wages, police software subscriptions, liability insurance, vehicle loan payments, office supplies, attorney/solicitor fees, phone and internet fees, and more.
In order to properly serve the region better, the police department needs to hire another full-time officer. We have identified a grant to pay for a large portion of training costs of an officer in 2025, and we are asking Chapman Township to contribute a larger portion of the police budget in 2026 in the amount of $60,000. With what 2026 budget numbers are projected to be with an additional officer, the $60,000 represents about 25% of the total police budget. This decision needs to be made NOW, in fall 2024, in order to budget and get an officer trained in 2025 and have on the streets before 2026.
This figure seems appropriate; the Chief of Police has researched and ran numbers and found that the Renovo Police Department contributes about 25% of its total time to Chapman Twp. incidents. This is patrol, traffic enforcement, court time, investigation time, etc. By far the most time-consuming function is criminal investigation time. For example, one single burglary investigation or one single mandated child abuse investigation can consume 20-60 hours of time easily per incident. We have had several in Chapman Twp. recently (and more in Renovo borough). These investigations leaves little time for patrol and proactive enforcement with manpower shortages.
The Renovo Police Department has seen multiple issues of drug fueled crime, and other issues, enter Chapman Twp. recently. There are dozens of people on probation and parole in the greater Renovo area.
A police department cannot effectively police a community of this size, with the crime and issues present, with the current staffing. The greater Renovo area is quite a distance from any other police services. Consistent local police coverage is essential to reduce crime and provide a rapid and most importantly effective response to incidents. Adding another full-time officer will allow us to schedule 7 day a week coverage, sometimes into the overnight hours.
The police department began a major overhaul 2-3 years ago, which, as Mayor, I want to finish the job the right way. I hired a Chief of Police with a wealth of knowledge and experience in all aspects of policing to get the department where we are today. We hired another patrol officer with years of experience. We need another, however. We are now a professionally run police department.
All Chapman Twp. and Borough residents are encouraged to contact the Township Supervisors in the next 10 days and to attend a Chapman Twp. meeting and voice your support for the need of local police coverage. Several people have done so recently in Borough Council meetings. No action will be taken if you do not contact the Township Supervisors. The police department would gladly appear with you to explain the details of policing a community that most are not aware of. Contact the Chief of Police to voice your concerns if you plan to attend. The citizens, as a community, need to help the Township make a decision that will affect their future for years to come. Local public safety is one of the most important decisions a municipality can make.
Everyone is encouraged to go to the following website and sign up for notifications, free of charge. Monthly statistics, arrests, and other information is regularly published by the Chief of Police: clinton.crimewatchpa.com/renovopd.
Gene Bruno is the Mayor of Renovo.