PHILIPSBURG — There has been no “official” word that merging the Philipsburg-based state police with the Rockview-based state police in Benner Township is set in stone; however, local and state officials say the writing is on the wall.
“For all intents and purposes, this thing is a go, and we’re not too happy about it. Not all all,” said state Rep. Scott Conklin, D-Rush Township. “I attended that meeting last week and I don’t think I learned anything more than I already knew. I think a lot of people felt that way.”
Conklin was one of about 200 concerned citizens and local and state officials who attended a public informational meeting April 6 at the Philipsburg-Osceola Middle School in Chester Hill.
Those in attendance included several members of the Pennsylvania State Police, including Maj. Maynard Gray, who took the audience through a Power Point presentation detailing PSP’s proposal for merging the two stations and then combining them into one barracks at the new facility.
Gray said the original plan was not to combine the barracks, but instead, to find a suitable location for a new Philipsburg barracks within 2 miles of the current location. He said the state looked at several sites within a 2-mile radius of the present barracks, but was unable to find a suitable location for a new building. He said the state also looked at various places near Port Matilda to place the barracks, but, again, a suitable location did not exist.
That is why, on Feb. 3, it was proposed to combine the barracks into one at a new Benner Township facility, he said. Contrary to popular belief, the proposal was made by the state police and not Gov. Tom Wolf or his administration, Gray said.
‘NO LACK OF COVERAGE’
“This was a decision made by the state police in an effort to be fiscally responsible,” said
Gray, who was once stationed at the Philipsburg barracks. “But the important thing for residents to know is there will be no lack of coverage.”
If the proposal does move forward, coverage for residents in Philipsburg and Rush Township will not be altered, even though the new barracks would be about 30 miles away, he said.
“The way state police cover their particular area is in zones,” said Gray. “At all times, there is at least one trooper patrolling each zone. It’s a practice we are using now, so there will be no difference in coverage. You will not lose any services that you are currently receiving from state police.”
The distance issue has been been a topic of debate. Gray said technology in police cruisers has dropped response times tremendously, and due to the zone coverage scheme by PSP, he said response times will parallel the response times of the present policing procedures.
Winifred Jones-Wenger, a Philipsburg attorney, said she disagreed with Gray concerning the response times, but also said she thinks a move would burden Philipsburg and Rush Township residents who need to visit the barracks for a variety of reasons — from lost-and-found items to questioning in criminal cases.
“That’s a very long way for people to travel for something as simple as questioning,” said Jones-Wenger. “This whole plan just doesn’t make any sense.”
Gray explained to the audience that the barracks in Philipsburg, however, would not close fully. He said the facility would be used for administrative staff when the merger goes into effect.
‘WHERE ARE THE SAVINGS?’
Those comments prompted reaction by state Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-Bellefonte, who has been silent on the issue since it started grabbing headlines in February. Corman said during a Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County luncheon April 10 that he was “troubled” PSP planned to keep the building open for administrative staff.
“Well, if you are going to keep the building open, why not keep the barracks there?” asked Corman. “If the reason of merger is to save money, and there’s still the same amount of troopers and both buildings are still going to be open, then where are the savings at?
“That’s where I’m confused, and I think we need to know a lot more about this before it goes any further,” Corman said.
Gray said construction of the proposed new facility is scheduled for this spring, with completion in spring of 2018. The land was purchased by, and the building will be constructed by, Hudson Companies of Hermitage, Pa. Gray explained the company won the bid, which was advertised by the state’s Department of General Services.
Conklin told the Gazette that he was disturbed with how the entire process played out, including putting the property and the building construction up for bid and how decisions were made “behind closed doors.”
“They said they couldn’t find a suitable location for a new facility,” said Conklin. “I don’t believe that at all. All they had to do was come to me and we could have found a place for it. I know we can. But instead, they kept me, and it seems like everyone else that should have been a part of it, out of the loop.
“They knew I would have fought this tooth and nail, and I’m continuing to do that. I just hope we’re not to the point where it’s a done deal. But, unfortunately, I think it is.”
Centre County Commissioner Steve Dershem echoed Conklin’s remarks following the April 11 Centre County Board of Commissioners meeting. He, too, said he was disappointed in the way the state handled the entire situation.
“I feel for the people on that side of the mountain,” said Dershem. “They have a legitimate argument there concerning police coverage. We were never brought in and asked our opinion about the project, but instead, it seemed like they (PSP) just came in and said we’re going to do this without consulting anyone that it truly affects.
“I truly feel bad for the people up there and that they have to deal with something like this.”
The meeting was organized by longtime Philipsburg resident Nancy Snyder, who said she was disappointed with the way the evening went.
“I feel like I wasted my time,” Snyder told the Gazette. “I feel this was a done deal before we even walked into that meeting. The state police were there to just humor us. It disgusts me that it happened like this, but what can we do now? It seems like the decision has already been made.”
There have been no further public meetings set for this matter; however, Conklin, Corman and Dershem said they will continue to ask the proper questions at the local, state and federal levels concerning the proposed merger.
“We’re not going to give up on this,” said Conklin. “We can’t.”
