Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published October 13, 2025 8:24 P.M.

(Pulaski Twp, Beaver County, Pa) Residents packed the Pulaski Township firehall Monday night with concerns over a proposed contract with the Beaver Valley Regional Police Department.

The 10 year contract would give Beaver Valley Regional Police jurisdiction over Pulaski Township with approximately $10,000 in savings compared to the New Brighton Police. Residents say they want to keep New Brighton Police in the township, acknowledging their tight knit relationship with the community and close proximity.

A major concern among many is the fact that the New Brighton Elementary and High schools are located in Pulaski. Currently, the district has their own police department, which consists of a single officer but are otherwise protected by New Brighton police.

Beaver Valley Regional Police Chief Michael Priolo stated that the calculated average response time to a call in Pulaski would be 15 minutes. He did note along with Township Supervisor Casey Zachondi, that with a school emergency all available departments would respond regardless.

One resident also noted suggested that those in the Borough of New Brighton, Daugherty Township, and Fallston Boro should also have a say, considering their children all attend the district.

The Chief stated that Beaver Valley Regional currently operates with four officers on duty between four communities. Those communities are Freedom, Baden, Rochester and Conway, where the department is headquartered. Pulaski would be the fifth community on their patrol.

Chief Priolo also made reference that the department, which was established in 2023, is still new and learning, prompting commotion from the audience with one resident yelling, “so we’re guinea pigs?”

Current New Brighton Police officers were in attendance as well. One officer asked whether the $10,000 savings is really worth it to the township, stating that the township currently receives roughly $3,000 dollars from citations issued in the township, bringing those proposed savings down to just roughly $7,000.

He said “I think it’s clear that there shouldn’t be this stress on our community right now, and our school district and our children”.

The officer went on to say “I don’t see where there’s a decision to be made, the decision has been made by the people, and that’s who you guys represent and not do an injustice to”.

Multiple residents are also concerned that the contract has changed over the last month and it still hasn’t been posted anywhere publicly. It was intially a 5 year contract with an optional 5 year extension.

Overall, a common goal among residents is to give the decision to the community with a ballot vote in the spring. The Township says they are looking into the option but nothing is set in stone. The route may require gathering signatures from the community.

The final board vote was originally scheduled for the Monday night meeting but Zachondi says that was pushed off until November as a result last month’s meeting.

If the board follows through with the November vote, 2 out of 3 votes will be needed to accept the contract with Beaver Valley Regional.

The most common question asked by residents throughout the meeting: “Why fix what is not broken?”.