Southwest Mercer County Regional Police Commission has approved a $1,167,000 budget for 2002 that calls for reducing the status of two full-time patrolmen to part-time.

But Mercer County District Attorney James Epstein said the reduction would hamper the law-enforcement efforts in Farrell, Wheatland and West Middlesex and offered money to buoy the department.

Epstein could not say for sure how much money he could contribute, but Southwest commission officials were hopeful they would not have to reduce the status of at least one patrolman.

Commission Chairman James DeCapua said the police union was notified during recent contract negotiations of a possible reduction in the full-time force.

Union officials could not be reached for comment.

DeCapua defended the contract, calling it fair to both sides, and pointed out that there were a number of factors that left officials scrambling for budget cuts.

Workers' compensation insurance is going up $13,000, and hospitalization is increasing from $600 a month for each employee to $675.

The department also lost the three-year federal grant it had used to hire two patrolmen. The grant paid $42,885 this year.

A $30,000 boost from Mercer County Regional Council of Governments to provide security for Shenango Valley Shuttle Service buses was not enough to make up the losses, and the department was looking at a $120,000 deficit, DeCapua said.

By cutting two full-timers, the department would save $43,997 in salaries, and absorb only a $1,428 increase in hospitalization. A 2 1/2-percent increase in the assessments charged to the municipalities would bring in $23,718.

DeCapua added that he would want to give the two patrolmen as much part-time work as possible and upped part-time salaries by $26,194.

"Expenses go up," DeCapua said. "Some you have control of and some you don't. We're faced with the ones we don't have control of."

In the past, Epstein has funneled drug- and alcohol-forfeiture money to Southwest to boost patrols. Referring to that, Farrell Councilman Peter D. Stephanopoulos, serving at his last meeting on the commission, asked Epstein if he could help.

"I think we can justify transferring funds to you," Epstein said, adding, "We're willing to help."

Epstein, who attended the meeting to discuss personnel issues with the commission in private, said he believes he has $6,900 in forfeiture funds available and will have about $15,000 available when a state Weed and Seed grant reimburses him for the cost of Assistant District Attorney Robert Kochems' salary as Weed and Seed coordinator.

Other funds might also be available, he said.

DeCapua said he would need an extra $30,100 to keep one of the policemen full-time.

Epstein said Southwest's part-timers "generally are excellent" in responding to calls and handling paperwork. But they are not available for follow-up investigations that often need to be done to prosecute crimes, he said.

He noted that much of the crime in Farrell is drug-related and many of the victims are reluctant to talk because of their own drug activity or fear of reprisal.

"Getting them fast and getting them on the record is of critical importance," he said.

Epstein added that he doesn't want to see Southwest's platoon reduced, or its part-time ranks gutted by other departments hiring part-timers away for full-time jobs.

Southwest recently lost part-time patrolman James Brown to a full-time job in Hermitage.

Southwest's part-time roster -- not including two reductions from full-time -- is down to four with Brown's departure and its lone female patrolman, Monica Thompson, being called to active military duty.

The commission approved the budget Tuesday and recommended that Farrell, Wheatland and West Middlesex councils approve it. DeCapua said the budget can be changed if money from the district attorney's office contributes to keeping a patrolman full-time.

The towns were originally told there would be no assessment increase.

"That was the situation before we crunched the numbers," DeCapua said.

Farrell and Wheatland representatives said they can handle the assessment increase, which amounts to $19,491 in Farrell and $2,033 in Wheatland.

West Middlesex officials, who would have to pay an additional $2,194, said they need only to have a final figure so they can approve the borough's budget Monday.

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Joe Pinchot at

jpinchot@sharon-herald.com