New look for O'Hara police vehicles helps mark start of Blawnox combined service

The O’Hara Police Department unveiled the new look of its patrol vehicles as the township force begins its first month serving Blawnox.

Borough officers became township employees at the start of this year via an intergovernmental agreement to boost manpower and coverage.

The department’s five marked vehicles were modified by Team Nutz of Castle Shannon to add “Blawnox Borough” to the existing design.

Former Blawnox Chief Patrick Goodman, now serving as O’Hara police’s deputy superintendent, believes the look may help borough residents feel safe when they see an O’Hara police car in town.

“I think it looks great,” Goodman said on Jan. 7. “That’s reassuring to the residents of the borough. They can see that that car’s supposed to be there.

“It seems like a not-critical thing, but if you’re a resident and a police car pulls out, that (lettering) being there makes you feel better about it. You know they are there for you.”

Superintendent Jay Davis said Team Nutz previously put the decals on township vehicles, and the cost for the update was about $1,000.

The department also has an unmarked vehicle and a Blawnox police cruiser that has yet to have its decals modified.

Davis said the Blawnox car is being kept in reserve in case something happens with another in the fleet.

That vehicle will eventually be replaced by a new Ford that will be purchased through a grant later this year.

Davis said the transition to a united law enforcement agency has been smooth thanks to the familiarity both departments have with each other — officers from their respective communities would cross borders for emergencies as part of mutual aid.

“We’ve had a long-standing history with them as far as working cooperatively together,” Davis said. “I really don’t see any real change. Our officers have been accustomed to working with Blawnox officers. They all know each other.”

O’Hara went from 15 officers to 19 — all full-time, to start the year.

Staffing includes three from Blawnox and recent hires by the township to replace those who resigned or retired.

Goodman said the patches on the uniform are different, but not the desire to protect and serve.

“It’s just getting acclimated to everything that’s new,” he said. “I’m sure there’s going to be a learning curve to that, but nothing negative. We’re doing the same job regardless of what’s on our shoulders. There are some procedural things that we do a little different here, but nothing earth-shattering or shockingly different.”

A few lockers and filing cabinets were added to the township station to accommodate the new personnel.

Davis said other administrative items have yet to be finalized.

Materials were still being moved this month from the Blawnox station to O’Hara.

None of that work is expected to impact service or responses.

Blawnox officials have not made any decisions on the former police station’s future, according to borough manager Kathy Ulanowicz.

Future social worker

Another personnel change related to the transition is the addition of a social worker.

O’Hara hired a social worker in 2022 to lead its human services department.

The goal was to help township residents gain access to mental health and other services.

It works with but is separate from the police department.

Blawnox officials learned about how much the social worker impacted the community, and wanted to secure one for the borough.

The estimated cost is $85,000 for a full-time social worker. O’Hara and Blawnox would each contribute $42,500.

Davis said that commitment is still in place, but things must move one step at a time.

“We’re trying to get this police department thing settled first,” he said. “I would hope here in the next couple of months that we’ll be moving in the direction of adding the additional social worker. We’re just working through our administrative obligations.”