Crescent, Moon Leaders to Discuss Sharing Police Services, Costs

Moon Township supervisors and Crescent commissioners have agreed to meet and discuss police services in their neighboring communities.

A date for the meeting has not been scheduled, Crescent Manager Patience Eckhardt said.

In September, Crescent Commissioner Karen Patton requested a meeting with Moon Township Supervisors to explore a potential contract for police services with Moon's department. 

Members of Crescent's Board of Commissioners have expressed interest in disbanding the community's police department in favor of contracting out services to Moon Township's police department as a cost-savings measure. Board members discussed those efforts with the public during a commission meeting in August. 

Moon supervisors accepted Patton's request in September, and Crescent commissioners approved the meeting during their December regular meeting, Eckhardt said. 

Supervisors John Hertzer and Jim Vitale will meet with two Crescent's commissioners during the closed-door meeting, which will not require a quorum. 

Hertzer said supervisors will not negotiate the cost of a potential contract at the upcoming meeting.

"It's kind of their meeting—it was (Crescent's) request" Hertzer said of the upcoming conference.

"We provide a lot of service (to Crescent Township) already, but this would have to make economic sense for (Moon) township," he said. 

No negotiating has taken place between the townships. Crescent's police union contract expires at the end of 2013; the lack of a contract could potentially pave the way to disband the department.  

Crescent Police filed an unfair labor complaint against Crescent commissioners in 2011.

In that complaint, the union contended that commissioners threatened Capt. Ken Longerman in October 2011 by telling him they were prepared to contract with Moon for police services and disband his department if the union requested additional benefits. 

Crescent Police dropped the unfair labor charge in April after the parties reconciled, according to a representative from Teamsters Local 205, which represents Crescent Police. 

Three months later, however, Crescent Commissioners arranged a meeting with Moon Police Chief Leo McCarthy and Capt. Greg Seamon to discuss the possibility of Moon taking over patrols in Crescent, Seamon told Patch. 

Earlier this month, Crescent approved the hiring of Martin Zimmel as the township police department's full-time chief. Zimmel has served as the department's interim chief since September 2010, Eckhardt said.

Former Police Chief Todd Miller resigned from the position in September 2011. 

Crescent commissioners could not be reached for comment.