SOUTH Whitehall TWP., Pa. — South Whitehall Township soon may get a new police chief.
The township Board of Commissioners on Wednesday launched an executive search to fill the job.
Former Police Chief Glen Dorney tendered his resignation last month. He's now corporate security manager for PPL, according to LinkedIn.
Stephen Brown is serving as interim/acting chief of police. He previously was the department’s captain.
Asked whether he is applying to permanently be chief of the department, Brown said he is “greatly considering it.”
The board approved a contract with The Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association at a cost of $9,000 to help conduct a “competitive search process and independent evaluation,” according to Township Manager Tom Petrucci.
Petrucci said the association will conduct interviews and review analysis presentations from the candidates, then present information collected to township staff and the board.
The township has not yet determined the application requirements for candidates.
New police vehicles
The board also authorized the police department to buy three new 2024 Chevrolet Tahoe police vehicles. Each vehicle will cost about $76,000, at an overall total of about $228,000.
“This price falls within the budgeted amount and still will allow for the canine vehicles to be uplifted later this year,” an information packet for commissioners read.
“Additionally, the three vehicles being decommissioned will tentatively be sold at auction.”
“Their head is pretty much touching the roof of the vehicle."Interim Chief of Police Stephen Brown
Brown said the currently used Ford models have needed too many repairs. They also are too small for the amount of equipment needed and for officers taller than 6 feet.
“Their head is pretty much touching the roof of the vehicle,” Brown said.
In September, Dorney requested commissioners authorize buying four new Chevrolets. But commissioners at the time were unsure how much the Chevrolets would cost the township long-term compared with the Ford models.
The board ultimately agreed to authorize buying two Chevrolets and two Fords so the township could evaluate them and determine which best served the department's needs.
The department ordered the four vehicles, but because of manufacturing delays, they've not yet arrived, Petrucci said.
Brown presented the board with more information to show why the department needed the vehicles, including a study by Michigan State police.
