Forward Township supervisor, police chief speak out after police department disbanded

FORWARD TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The Forward Township Police Department no longer exists, effective at midnight April 12.

Township supervisors made it official last night during their monthly municipal meeting.

One supervisor claimed the department was not providing quality protection to the community.

“I think it’s a big mistake. I mean, security is a big thing with everybody,” said Tony Lynch, a Forward Township resident.

The Forward Township police station parking lot will now sit empty and the building vacant.

This all comes after Forward Township supervisors voted unanimously 3-0 to disband the force Monday evening.

“I’m totally blindsided by this. We found out through a Facebook post,” said Forward Township Police Chief Travis Stoffer.

Stoffer called the move blatantly disrespectful to the 3 full time and 4 part time officers, as well as a major blow to public safety.

A post on the department’s Facebook page stated they were disbanded over money and staffing.

“All the guys have families. They all have children. It was a total blindside move by them,” said Stoffer.

Forward Township supervisor chairman Tom DeRosa says the disbandment was a long thing coming.

He claims the decision to disband boils down to response times and serious scheduling problems.

“It’s not a money issue with me especially. It’s only an issue of police protection. We’ve had too many nights here where there’s no police. The scheduling was a problem,” said Tom DeRosa, Forward Township supervisor.

In the meantime, Elizabeth Township police, which has 13 officers on the force, have been contracted to patrol the roughly 20 square mile area.

Elizabeth Township Police Chief Ken Honick told Channel 11 they have mobilized an immediate plan and are able to take on the joint services agreement, saying in part:

“Forward Township residents now are able to have the same high level of police services as the residents of Elizabeth Township.”

“We’re gonna make sure that they get the proper coverage they need in Forward Township,” said DeRosa.

Chief Stoffer said they were considering unionizing and reached out to the FOP before the announcement occurred Monday evening.

The township supervisor says this was not an act of retaliation, and will benefit all residents.

Forward Township residents are invited to participate in a Citizens for Action group meeting at the Rostraver Ice Garden on April 26 at 6 p.m.

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