Monongahela continuing protection for Union
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Monongahela’s police department will continue to provide coverage of Union Township through the end of 2027.
Both municipalities approved the agreement Wednesday.
The cost to the township for 2024 is $441,261, and the contract includes slight increases in each of the three subsequent years – $476,562 for 2025; $500,390, 2026; and $540,421, 2027.
Monongahela has been providing the township with coverage through short-term contracts since 2017.
Township Supervisor Suzonne Baynham said she felt a more long-term agreement was needed.
“It gives them a little more stability, as well as giving the township residents peace of mind that we actually have police on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Baynham said. “It was very important to this board to get this worked through and passed.”
Baynham said she worked closely with Monongahela Police Chief Kevin Harris to put the contract together.
“All in all it went very smoothly, and I’m excited that we passed the resolution to accept this contract,” she said. “We feel it’s a solid contract and it’s something the township doesn’t have to be concerned with (through the end of 2027).”
Harris said the slight increases in the contract provides enough money to ensure the township of the full-time police coverage.
“It will allow us to bring in additional full-time officers to ensure that coverage,” he said.
Monongahela Police Department also provides coverage for Finleyville and New Eagle. It is in the midst of 10-year contracts with those two municipalities.
Harris said Monongahela has nine full-time officers, a number he hopes to increase by two within the next two years. The department also has 17 part-time officers.
Under the terms of the contract, Monongahela has one police officer assigned to the township 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The contract also calls for 168 hours of coverage in the township each week, for a total of 21 eight-hour shifts each week.
“I think both parties are satisfied,” Harris said. “I think it sets both sides up for strong coverage in the future. In the city, it helps bolster our ability to bring in more full-time officers and it guarantees the township of having police service.”