NEWPORT, Pa. (WHTM) -
Newport Borough Council has voted to immediately disband their police force, according to a press release sent out Tuesday morning.
"Pennsylvania State Police, with its full time administrative staff, is in a better position to operate and administer police services," the release said.
John McNaughton confirmed that the vote took place at an 8 a.m. meeting today. McNaughton was on borough council but said he resigned this morning after the vote. He voted to keep borough police.
"They have done a disservice to Newport," McNaughton said.
Council said they made the decision based upon the "increasingly burdensome cost of operating a local police department." They also cited the trend away from local police services and state police's ability to administer forensic and specialized services.
A trooper at Pennsylvania State Police's Newport barracks confirmed that state police have now taken over coverage of Newport Borough.
He said state police have been covering Newport part time since the Newport Borough Police Department was only a part-time department.
Trooper Adam Reed, public information officer for state police, said residents should not be concerned about an increase in response times.
"It's fairly close to the [state police] barracks there," he said. "We already handles
calls in the area so the troopers are already familiar with the area. I
wouldn't anticipate any letdowns or lapse in cover."
