Down by four

Effective Jan. 15, Bristol Township will lay off four officers in response to the budget crisis.

The four officers with the least amount of seniority will be let go, but some last-minute action could save their jobs. The layoffs come as an alternative to forced retirement, which the department planned originally. But under the Police Tenure Act, officers can only retire to avoid layoffs if they’re 70 or older.

Several officers eligible for retirement but under 70 refused to retire, this creating the need for layoffs. Should they change their minds, the four officers facing layoffs can retain their jobs.

If that doesn’t happen, only if the police union agrees to health care concessions laid out by the council, will the officers remain on staff.

Currently, all township employees pay nothing to their health insurance premiums and pay $1 and $5 prescription and copay fees. The Bucks County Courier Times detail the union’s demands in response to raising insurance premiums.