Carroll Township hiring 3 new police officers

By TAYLOR BROWN

Senior Reporter 

tbrown@yourmvi.com

Carroll Township’s police department will soon have new officers on patrol.

During a meeting Tuesday morning, supervisors unanimously approved hiring three police officers. 

Carl Talbert will be the department’s newest full-time officer, pending acceptance, testing and paperwork. Patrick Short and Jason Miller will begin as part-time officers.

Chief Paul Brand said the department, like others across the Mon Valley, has struggled to find help and fill shifts. 

With the new hires, the department will have five full-time staff members, including Brand, and about 10 active part-time officers. 

The problem, Brand said, is that part-time officers don’t always have availability to cover open shifts because they also work part-time for other departments, or in some cases have full-time jobs. 

“We’re facing the same challenges as every other department,” Brand said. 

Brand said the amount of police calls are steady at a few hundred each month.

That includes incidents within the township, mutual aid response and incidents at Penn Highlands Mon Valley hospital in Carroll Township. 

“They (officers) are out doing traffic enforcement which, without scientifically looking at it, accidents seem to be trending down,” Brand said.

Increased traffic patrols have not only led to safer roads, but have helped lead to other arrests from DUIs or drugs. 

“That’s not a surprise, that’s just what happens,” Brand said. “They are just out there trying to make the community safer day in and day out. Hopefully we will start to see a difference as the world gets better.” 

Supervisors reminded residents that branch pick-ups began in the township last month. Street crew employees will pick up branches and other debris. Branches less than 6 feet long and less than 6 inches in diameter and can be picked up and chipped by the road department. 

Residents can arrange for pick-up by calling 724-483-7330.