Recently, our local papers and television stations have been chattering about a bid by Lower Merion Township to take over Narberth Borough's Police Department. Well, according to the Main Line Times, Narberth has decided "no". Many questions remain over this takeover bid, namely the politics of origination.

Posted on Wed, Jun 11, 2008
Narberth to keep its police force
By Richard Ilgenfritz

NARBERTH –The Narberth Borough Council Wednesday night voted to halt its consideration of a plan by Lower Merion Township to take over Narberth's police responsibilities to save money for both municipalities.In a unanimous voice vote, the council approved a motion to inform Lower Merion that the borough was no longer considering the township's offer to take over the borough's policing duties because the township hadn't provided enough detail on cost savings for the borough.

"We have a motion that we will contact Lower Merion Township and inform them that we are no longer considering the March 13, 2008, absorption proposal," Council President Mary Jo Pauxtis said just before the council voted on the proposal.

In March, Lower Merion Board President Bruce Reed sent a letter to Pauxtis suggesting the borough and the township could save a combined $1.2 million if the borough dissolved its police department and allowed Lower Merion to take over the police responsibilities in the borough.

The council agreed in April to consider Reed's proposal by asking Lower Merion for more detail on the $1.2 million savings.

"What we found was that there really wasn't any specific allocation for cost savings. And with that information, we thought there was no reason for us to move forward," council member Nancy Lotz, a member of the sub-committee looking into the issue, told the full council at last week's meeting

Of course, it lends itself to a conversation about Lower Merion Police Department. How do we as citizens feel about our police force? The residents of the borough of Narberth turned out en masse to save their police department, and that speaks volumes. But as for LMPD, how do we feel? Are all officers friendly and polite? Is it easy to interact with them? IF you have a concern, can you voice concerns safely and comfortably without fear of retribution?

Of course what is also interesting about discussing how we feel about our police, is that it leaves ordinary citizens walking a fine line alongside conspiracy theorists, right? But do those conspiracy theorists whose perspectives often have left citizens feeling uncomfortable all wrong? Do their sometimes outrageous seeming claims have any basis in fact?

Of course this post will undoubtedly make some upset, but as a community we should be able to respectfully and politely discuss sensitive issues, correct? It's not an eternal damnation, it's a conversation. If we can't have this conversation openly, then we truly DO have to worry, right?