Residents rally to save Westtown-East Goshen police force

Talks are again under way to prevent a Chester County police department from dissolving.

The officers believe the support of the public has been the key to restarting stalled negotiations. 

About 150 people packed the East Goshen municipal building Tuesday night calling for the board of supervisors to work out a deal with the police department that patrols their municipality and neighboring Westtown. 

“When the residents came out, I think it spoke volumes,” said police officer Anthony Ruggieri, president of the union that represents the force of about two dozen full-time officers. “And I think that the supervisors heard loud and clear they didn’t want them splitting the police department apart.”

Town supervisors say the current union contract is too costly. Splitting the department into two and disbanding the joint force is one option; the other is bringing in the Pennsylvania State Police to handle patrols.

East Goshen resident Joy Crozier is using social media to support the officers.

“We live here, one of the reasons, is because we feel safe, we feel like our families can be raised here in a good environment,” Crozier said. “The kids know the police officers and can go to them. We didn’t want that changed.”

The supervisors have scheduled another public meeting for Tuesday to discuss the future of the police department.