The Millcreek Township Board of Supervisors is currently in the process of implementing recommendations from the “Early Intervention Program Report” completed through a PA Department of Community and Economic Development Grant in 2018 to study the Millcreek Township Police Department and recommend best practices.
Two key recommendations from the study are related to manpower needs and streamlining the command structure. First, per the analysis, utilizing the staffing standard best practice of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), a patrol force of 37 active patrol officers would be appropriate for a municipality with Millcreek’s call volume, Millcreek currently has 42. Second, the report noted that 43% of the commissioned officer work force in Millcreek is in command and supervisory roles. Best practices recommend a ratio of 1 supervisor for every 8 officers; Millcreek currently has 1 supervisor for every 3 officers.
“What we’re looking to accomplish here by following best practices is to right-size our command structure in order to put more officers on the street. The first part of that is to evaluate what the supervisory needs of the Department are. We have implemented a policy to hold higher ranking supervisory positions open to be evaluated as they become vacant. -James Bock, Township Supervisor, Liaison to Millcreek Police Dept.
The Township remains committed to maintaining current staffing levels for all patrol shifts while the ongoing command staff evaluation progresses.
