"There is no fighting on the bus or disturbances at the bus stop," said James DeCapua. "Everything is fine."

DeCapua is executive director of Mercer County Regional Council of Governments, which runs Shenango Valley Shuttle Service and Mercer County Community Transit.

Prior to the police commitment, drivers complained of school students from Sharon, Farrell and Wheatland who refused to pay fares.

Most students in those communities are not bused to school by their districts.

Adults also caused disturbances, including one who assaulted a driver.

"There are some real characters that ride that bus," DeCapua told the Southwest Mercer County Regional Police Commission, of which he is chairman. "They need some police to bring them into reality."

DeCapua delivered a $30,000 check to Southwest Tuesday, after the delivery of a check the same size to Sharon.

The money covers 1,000 hours of police security.

DeCapua said agreements with Sharpsville and Hermitage are in the works. The security needs in those communities are different because their school districts bus students, he said.