O'Hara, Blawnox get state money for soon-to-be merged force

O’Hara police are getting a bump from the state to accommodate its larger force come January.

The township was awarded $42,000 to purchase a new vehicle as it is scheduled to absorb the Blawnox force Jan. 1. It means the addition of four full-time officers and a combined squad of about 19 that will patrol both municipalities.

The purchase will take the township’s fleet to seven vehicles.

Township Manager Julie Jakubec said it means a decent cost savings to a police budget that is about $2.5 million.

“With the additional officers and the addition of Blawnox under the township patrol and policing responsibility, a fleet of seven patrol vehicles is needed,” Jakubec said.

Municipal leaders finalized an agreement in September that will see O’Hara police Superintendent Jay Davis leading the combined department.

Blawnox Chief Patrick Goodman will retain a “command staff” role after the merger.

The two chiefs will meet throughout the fall to discuss operations.

Blawnox Borough Manager Kathy Ulanowicz said the police fleet will be marked in a way to indicate both communities are covered by one department. The design has not been finalized.

Ulanowicz said combining forces is a benefit because of manpower and other factors. Blawnox has a police budget of about $466,000 and will pay O’Hara a yearly fee based on a calculation, she said.

More information on day-to-day operations will be released as it becomes available.

State Rep. Mandy Steele, D-Fox Chapel, helped secure the funding. She said inadequate funding and “communities being less engaged” has led to a crisis for first responders.

“They’re short on money, equipment and volunteers,” she said.

“Investing in our police is one of the smartest moves we can make,” Steele said. “Well-resourced police departments are critical to the well-being of a community.”