Pubdate: Thu, 05 Jan 2006
Source: Valley Independent, The (Monessen, PA)
Copyright: 2006 The Tribune-Review Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.valleyindependent.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2641
Author: Jeff Oliver

RESIDENTS REACT TO LOSS OF POLICE FORCE

BENTLEYVILLE - Whenever a community's police department is disbanded, 
the decision rarely is popular. Bentleyville residents responded in a 
predictable way to borough council's decision Tuesday night to 
disband the police force and to depend on state police coverage.

"That's not safe at all," Angela Mock said. "We need local police in 
Bentleyville. There is too much action going on in Bentleyville for 
us not to have our own police.

"We need police here at all times. I live in the Bentleyville 
Apartments and I just saw first-hand (Tuesday) night how bad things 
can be. There was a fight going on and no state police showed up.

"State police only come out in an emergency and there is too much 
drug activity going on. It goes on 24 hours a day. It's a terrible decision."

Dave Garber is a Ellsworth resident, but said he has seen good work 
by the Bentleyville police, particularly Lt. Mark Kavakich, in the 
war on drugs.

"(Kavakich) was always after the drug dealers," Garber said. "He never let up."

Garber criticized the decision by council to go public about the 
decision to depend on state police coverage.

"I think it was a bad decision to put it in the newspaper," Garber 
said. "It sends a message that it's OK to do anything in Bentleyville 
now. Bentleyville police did do a good job and now there will be a 
lot of problems around here."

Jody Zavora, an employee of Pretty Petals flower shop, said she does 
not live in Bentleyville but added that customers complained about 
the decision.

"They aren't too happy," she said. "I guess that's safe to say. 
People in the town are upset. They don't feel as secure. A lot of 
people are talking about it."

Sadie Hixenbaugh said she didn't think she would ever see the day 
that Bentleyville did not have its own police.

"I didn't think they could do that," she said of council's decision. 
"Our police were always good. Are state police going to come down 
here and live? I don't like the sound of this at all. It's not right."

Gertrude Silbaugh said Bentleyville residents deserve police 
protection 24 hours a day.

"We all need protection right now," Silbaugh said. "I think all small 
communities should do what they can to keep their police departments. 
I think it's a shame, really."

Sam Scicchitano said he was not surprised to see the new council 
members disband the force.

"That's what they said they would do and they did it," he said. " ... 
I don't know too much about it. We'll have to wait and see how it works out."

One local businessman who did not want to be identified said he was 
willing to give state police the benefit of the doubt.

"I have faith in state police and we should give them a chance. I 
guess sometimes communities have to do what they have to do to make 
ends meet," he said. 
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman