Jul 28, 2018 6 min read

Greene County Regional Police Chief Zachary Sams’ ultimate goal is to one day have his force staffed 24/7.

Though the fledgling department is still growing and he hasn’t put a whole lot of thought into long-term goals, that’s the one he’s always striving for.

Sams, previously a sergeant with the department before the resignation of former chief Michael Natale in March, is constantly thinking about creative ways to use his department’s funds and resources effectively.

He said he had no aspirations or intentions of becoming chief, but now that he’s been in the position for a few months, Sams is becoming more comfortable with managing his six officers.

“We’ve been busy,” he said.

He estimated the department would surpass last year’s incident number this September. He’s all about efficiency.

Many of the challenges that come with operating a regional department that covers four townships are also some of its strengths.

The department patrols Perry, Wayne and both Morris townships in Greene and Washington counties. That’s a total of about 140 square miles, and it also means dealing with four fire departments, four groups of township supervisors and four road crews.

“We have a lot of people we need to get along with,” he said.

Each township has different expectations and needs, and it’s his job to keep up to date with those problems, he said.

Sams started with the Morris Township police force soon after it formed in 2016 and was there when it became a regional department later that year. He graduated from the police academy in 2007 and worked for a couple of other departments before coming to Greene County, including Carlow University and departments in Beaver County.

Though he didn’t see himself as chief, Sams was honored when he was approached by the commission, which is represented by a supervisor from each of the townships. He realized when he became a sergeant that becoming chief might be that possibility if there was ever a need, but he enjoyed being on patrol.

As the chief, Sams said he plays a lot of catching up. He’s still on the road, patrolling and handling investigations. But he’s also answering calls at the station, reading emails and handling administrative work. The regional department’s officers also do a lot of driving; filling up the tank is at least a 30-minute drive.

That’s why Sams needs to make strategic decisions with equipment. If something an officer needs isn’t in one of the four cruisers, it could be an hour round trip away and essentially useless.

“If we don’t have it in the car when we need it, we might as well not have it at all … If we need one, we need four,” he said of any new purchases.

Since the department is still growing, Sams said there are still some things his officers need, and he must prioritize those purchases.

“We’re trialing some in-car computers. We’re running right now a mobile data service with AT&T in one of our units. We’re testing out how reception is going to be in our areas. Cellphone reception is not great. That makes data reception not great. On the same token, high-speed internet is difficult to come by as well,” he said. “We’re working really hard to try to find the most efficient way to use our budget that benefits our townships and also makes our jobs easier and safer.”

And covering municipalities in two counties comes with its own unique challenges: two 911 centers to be dispatched from, two different channels to monitor and two different call signs to listen for.

“But on the same token, we’re able to utilize some of the same services that Washington County has that Greene County does not. One of the things we’re trialing with the in-car computers is their remote dispatch system, which has mapping systems,” he said. “That service isn’t available here (in Greene County).”

There are also more departments in Washington County that can assist on a call if needed, though Sams is thankful for the collaboration with state police, Waynesburg Borough police and even Cumberland Township police. He said their department couldn’t survive without their help. Even so, backup can be 15 to 20 minutes away, and that time is crucial.

The department is headquartered in the village of Nineveh and has a satellite station in Mt. Morris.

“We’re basically on our own when we’re out,” he said. “There’s not nearly enough of us to cover Greene County the way that I think the area deserves.”

Though that gives him some pause, it also guides his decisions for the department.

Sams said one of his favorite parts of working in Greene County is the unique, small-town feel. It’s a homey, welcoming place, he said, and he hasn’t felt the animosity or even hatred for law enforcement that is sometimes felt in other areas.

“It makes the day go a little easier when things go smoothly,” Sams said.

But some do not realize their department is not staffed 24/7 – state police take over for the regional force during those off times – since the department is bound by hourly contracts with each individual township. That means there may not be someone on the next shift to relieve an officer, Sams said. It also means prioritizing calls.

Sams said he has been analyzing the high traffic times to tailor the schedule. They cover up to 112 hours a week, with coverage averaging 12 hours a day, seven days a week. That allows for overlap, with a couple shifts a day having multiple patrol units. He eventually wants continuous coverage, something he’s constantly striving for but is still a ways off.

He also can picture himself in Greene County to see that through.

“There’s a lot of potential in this county and I would definitely like to stick around and see that blossom.”