Regional police dept. receives state grant

The new Southern Chester County Regional Police Department will receive $44K in state funding.

NEW GARDEN >> State Sen. Andy Dinniman announced that New Garden Township will receive $44,000 in state funding for the merger of the New Garden and West Grove Police Departments.

The funds, provided through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Municipal Assistance Program, will assist with startup expenses for the new, merged Southern Chester County Regional Police Department.

“The development of new Southern Chester County Regional Police Department can serve as a model for other communities and municipalities throughout Pennsylvania that are looking to cut costs, improve operations, and expand coverage,” said Dinniman, D-19.

Beginning this year, New Garden and West Grove merged their departments in an effort to consolidate, streamline, and modernize operations while providing all residents with full-time police service.

The new department includes

a 25-member force with 15 full-time members, 8 part-time members and two civilians in administrative positions.

The Southern Chester County Regional Police Department serves a total of more than 15,000 residents in both New Garden and West Grove with the possibility of more municipalities joining in the future.

It is only the second regional police department in Chester County, after Westtown-East Goshen.

The Southern Chester County Regional Police Department currently operates its main station out of a series of trailers off Gap-Newport Pike (Route 41) and a substation out of the site of the former West Grove Police Department.

Dinniman said he is also working to secure state funding to support the construction of a new, permanent police station for the department.

For more information, call Senator Dinniman’s office at 610-692-2112 or email acirucci@pasenate.com.