At the start of Oct. 25 Lehigh County Commissioner’s meeting, Chair Geoff Brace announced Cedarbrook nursing home, “has been recognized in Newsweek as one of America’s best nursing homes for facilities that have over 150 beds. A significant accomplishment. It’s a credit to the staff, the administrators, the families, the residents at Cedarbrook that really do make a difference.”

In 2022, Lehigh County Police Chiefs Association started a study about alternative strategies of policing of the county’s 25 municipalities.

Resolution 61 pertaining to grant application from LCCPA to Pennsylvania’s Gaming Local Share Account for $198,400 to study the possible consolidation of the police forces was discussed among board members.

LSA provides grants provided they all under public interest of the people of the commonwealth.

Commissioner Bob Elbich spoke to the resolution and his interest in what the findings will look like when it is completed. A former first responder, he said, “What comes to mind is the similarities between the police issues and those of fire and EMS. They are very very similar.

“The issue of the struggles with the resources and assets that are required for public welfare are absolutely vital to having a society that works and functions, that has safe conditions. I really support going through this study,” Elbich concluded.

Brace said the county cannot consolidate any type of municipal setting, only facilitate the discussion. He also explained certain complexities need to be addressed, such as when someone calls 911, they are calling a county resource.

“When local chiefs of police are coming and saying that they have staffing issues that need to be addressed. I’m glad we can be partners in that.”

Executive Director of Lehigh Valley Justice Institute Joe Welsh addressed expressed his support for the study.

“The one thing I would like to put on the radar, as this multiyear study progresses, this is an ideal opportunity to address the co-responder issue. Because one of the biggest roadblocks to co-responders is that the structure of the Pennsylvania government, counties handle human services and cities handle public services. The traditional security policing model being a public service.”

Welsh said, “As this progresses over the years, through this study and other work, it would be really important to keep in mind that intergovernmental relations, and when you later 911 on top of that even more so. This would be a great opportunity to have a really serious reasoned discussion.”

The resolution passed unanimously.