![]() ![]() ![]() Standardized Remington shotguns and Colt AR-15 assault rifles are now in every patrol car.īy 2011, mobile computers and digital video systems will be standard in every vehicle through a $128,000 investment. Roughly $20,000 was spent from millage and grant funds to improve body armor, and the department added two vehicles, including a 4 by 4 for all-weather purposes. An overhaul of patrol-shift hours is also under consideration.Īnd officers have more tools at their disposal. Through early retirements, Harshberger also cut two lieutenant positions and added sergeants to support more road patrols. The new CPU team works flexible hours and responds to issues throughout the community. Pittsfield Township pulled its lone investigator out of the county’s major crimes task force, freeing up another officer to form a community patrol unit. That required a shift in officer assignments. That included increasing officers' visibility throughout the 28-square mile township, quicker response times and more community interaction - which were sorely lacking, said Harshberger, a township resident for 13 years. ![]() The first step was to address the department’s presence in the community. The goal is a more pro-active and community-oriented agency. Harshberger said the department is in the initial phase of his long-term strategy to reshape it over the next three to five years. Harshberger highlighted the changes and his vision for future improvements during a presentation at Wednesday night's township board meeting. “We’re looking to change the direction of the organization and look at it from the community’s perspective so that they get what they want out of having a public safety department,” said Matt Harshberger, who became department director last May. ![]() The Pittsfield Township Department of Public Safety is seeing some major changes.įrom an internal reorganization to improving officer and firefighter equipment, department leaders say they've focused on changing the philosophy of providing services while improving community interaction over the past six months. Pittsfield Township Police Officer Matt Hornbeck (left) shows fellow Officer Aja Chung a report on a mobile computer used by the department's community patrol unit. ![]()
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