Keep PD or outsource, Girardville mayor asks
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL FILE
GIRARDVILLE – Should Girardville keep its own police department, or outsource coverage to another department? That question is being posed to residents by Mayor Michael Zangari via a survey announced Wednesday night.
The police force has been marred with controversy over the past few years.
It has had five different leaders since 2020, one of whom — ex-Officer-in-Charge Fabrizio Bivona — filed a federal lawsuit against the borough following his firing last year.
Bivona’s successor, Jeremy Talanca, is facing a host of felony theft charges related to a car dealership he owned in Berwick.
Zangari said Wednesday that Talanca has returned all borough-owned equipment.
“At this point, all ties between Talanca and Girardville borough are severed,” Zangari said.
The next steps for the borough police force are in question. Council approved the hiring of Gerald Daley as a patrolman, to handle the force’s administrative tasks. He is currently Ashland’s police chief. He will work up to 10 hours a week.
“I would be lying to say that, even with the great officers that we have, that we’ve received the proper coverage that Girardville borough should receive and that it certainly pays for,” Zangari said. “Moving forward, we want to hear from the public.”
Zangari said a survey will be available beginning tomorrow asking residents if the police force should remain, even if it requires a tax increase to fund, or coverage should be outsourced, and why.
The survey is available at borough hall and responses will be accepted through May 3 at 3pm.
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