Canonsburg votes to provide Houston Borough with police services
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Canonsburg Borough has voted to enter into an agreement with Houston to provide the neighboring community with around-the-clock police protection.
At Monday evening’s voting meeting, Canonsburg council voted unanimously to provide Houston Borough with police services.
“It’s pretty significant,” said Rich Russo, Canonsburg council president. “They’re a small community that sees the benefit in that, rather than hiring their own police department. It expands our police presence in the area. It’s a win-win.”
Canonsburg council approved a memorandum of understanding with Houston Monday before voting to adopt an Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement to provide police protection, with contingencies, the biggest one being Houston adopt the agreements at its monthly meeting Wednesday.
To sufficiently patrol an increased service area, Canonsburg is seeking to hire one additional full-time police officer, Russo said. Houston will cover all costs associated with the additional officer, including the officer’s salary, benefits and uniforms, Russo said.
Canonsburg police are working from its civil service list to hire a full time officer, said police Chief Alex Coghill. That officer’s salary hasn’t been finalized, but the starting salary for a patrolman in Canonsburg is $69,164, not including benefits.
Salaries increase annually for at least the first three years. A second-year patrolman’s salary in Canonsburg is, on average, $73,691, which increases to $76,643 the third year. The officer on duty in Houston would receive about the same salary trajectory.
For years, Houston has been policed by part-time officers and state troopers. Earlier this year, Houston reached out to both Chartiers Township and Canonsburg Borough for police protection, and ultimately decided to work with Canonsburg.
The arrangement has been in the works for several weeks.
“We’ve had this long-standing friendship with Houston for a long, long time. I think that was again cemented by this action,” Russo said. “The presence of a local police department will benefit them. It will also give some comfort to the residents, knowing that we’re just right next door.”
Houston council meets at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the borough building.