CLEARFIELD – Borough Operations Manager Leslie Stott, on behalf of Clearfield Borough officials, released the following press statement in response to the citizens’ questions about Clearfield Borough police handling incidents in Lawrence Township and the current police coverage.
“Clearfield Borough takes great pride in the fact that it has always maintained and supported a well-trained and fully-staffed police department. A full complement of officers is on-duty at all times, and the citizens of Clearfield Borough are fully-protected 24 hours per day.
“The priority of borough council and the police department is to protect the health, safety and welfare of all citizens of Clearfield Borough and those who may be traveling through or visiting the borough. In the past, there have been time periods when Lawrence Township was left with no coverage, no officers on-duty or reduced staffing for various shifts.
“For a period of time, the matter seemed to be resolved; however, over the past several months, it’s becoming more frequent. Lawrence Township officers will either not be on-duty for various shifts, or at the most reduced coverage is available. At those times, Clearfield Borough police start to receive calls to respond to incidents in Lawrence Township.
“The first priority of Clearfield Borough police is and will always be to the citizens of Clearfield Borough and those who may be traveling or visiting through the borough. Clearfield Borough police officers simply can neither respond to Lawrence Township incidents when they are currently involved with incidents in the borough, nor can they leave the borough in a position that it’s not adequately covered with police protection.
“Legally, a Clearfield Borough police officer doesn’t have any power or jurisdiction to handle a matter in Lawrence Township. Mutual aid [isn’t] until requested to do so by a police officer on-duty in the township. If there isn’t an officer on-duty in the township, Clearfield Borough police officers simply aren’t legally able to respond. When there isn’t a Lawrence Township police officer on-duty, all calls revert to the Pennsylvania State Police who have statewide jurisdiction and who may choose to respond to the call, or request the call be held until a later time when a Lawrence Township police officer is on-duty or available.
“Under certain circumstances, Clearfield Borough police officers may be able to respond when requested by the state police. Of course any response by Clearfield Borough police officers in Lawrence Township subjects Clearfield Borough and its citizens to incurring the cost of officers’ time and expenses associated with the subsequent prosecution of those arrested without any reimbursement from Lawrence Township.
“This statement should not be construed to be criticism of the officers and staff of the Lawrence Township police. Clearfield Borough Council and the Clearfield Borough police are deeply concerned about the status of police coverage for all citizens of the area. As Clearfield Borough is completely surrounded by Lawrence Township, the municipalities must work together in order to assure that all of our citizens are fully-protected.”