Houston Borough Disbands Police Department

Houston Borough Council voted on Wednesday to disband their police department. Council just barely gathered a quorum with council members David Bails, Lisa Minney and Walt Nesic absent. The four remaining council members President Larry Scears, Vice President Nick Galbraith, Paul Hatalsky and Jon Taylor voted unanimously to enter into an Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement with the Borough of Canonsburg. Canonsburg will now provide something to Houston that Scears says the borough never had, 24 hour a day, seven day a week police protection. The agreement is a three year deal that will cost Houston $337,000 over the life of the contract. It will release four part time police officers and Pennsylvania State Police from their duties. The contract will provide all customary police duties. Scears says that this is something that had to be done because of all of the businesses that are locating to the borough that are staying open to 11 or 12 at night. He pointed to the new Sheetz store that will be open for 24 hours a day. Scears says that public safety was the main driver in entering into the agreement.  Canonsburg voted to approve the deal on Monday and have already begun their preparations to serve Houston. The contract is expected to begin on June 1, but if all parties agree, it could begin sooner.