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Wrightstown votes to continue receiving police coverage from Newtown Township

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It looks like the Newtown Township Police Department will continue keeping residents safe in neighboring Wrightstown for at least another decade.

At a public meeting on Monday, Oct. 3, the Wrightstown Board of Supervisors approved a 10-year contract extension for police protection with Newtown Township. As of press time, supervisors in Newtown Township still needed to review and approve the deal.

Newtown Township Police have been providing public safety coverage in Wrightstown since 2003, officials said. An initial 10-year contract was extended in 2013. Wrightstown’s Oct. 3 vote would keep the partnership going.

Under terms of the deal, there is an automatic annual 5% increase in what Wrightstown will pay for police protection, which is the same terms as the first 20 years of contracted coverage, officials said.

“Newtown Township Police are required to provide Wrightstown residents with the same level of service as provided to Newtown Township residents,” said Wrightstown Supervisor Chairman Chester Pogonowski.

“There is a cancellation clause for non-performance which would allow either township to terminate the contract with notice. However, given the excellent services over the past 20 years, we believe that residents will be well-served for the next 10 years as well,” he added.

Wrightstown disbanded its police department in 1988. It subsequently contracted with Buckingham Township for police coverage, before electing to a strike a deal with Newtown Township for public safety services.

At the Oct. 3 meeting, Wrightstown supervisors also approved spending $2,100 in American Rescue Plan funds to purchase computer and related technology for use by the police. The equipment is expected to be housed at the Wrightstown Municipal Building.

“There is room at the township building which will be more actively used by police officers to interact with residents,” Pogonowski explained. “There will also be space for officers to complete reports in Wrightstown instead of at their main station in Newtown. This reinforces the police presence in the township.”


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