Exclusive: Colwyn Borough Police Department Reduced To Four Officers

COLWYN, Pa. (CBS) -- Members of the Colwyn Borough Council were shocked on Thursday evening to find that half of the borough's already small police force turned in letters of resignation during the town's monthly meeting.

"It just boils down to if I do something that puts me in a jam, I don't feel like anybody on the Council will have my back and support me," said Sean Engleman, one of the resigning officers.

The police department, which consists of only part-time officers, is tasked with patrolling the borough of 2,500 residents.

Following Thursday evening's Council meeting and resignations, the department is now reduced to only four officers.

"It's a squabble between Council and maybe the mayor about the police force.  (As to) particulars, I don't really know what it's about," said Derrick Taylor, an officer hired two days prior.

Sources say it's because of issues centered around overtime, hiring practices, and accusations of racism.

The police force has been operating without a command structure since the Council fired the chief more than a year ago.  A recommendation of who should take over the command position led to even more disputes during Thursday evening's meeting.

"Our chief tried to work with the Council and he was fired. It's a no-win situation with the Council they have sitting in the borough," George Miller Jr., another of the resigning officers, says.
Tonette Pray is Colwyn's council president.  She says the community remains protected:

"Darby Borough will be handling any emergency call that we have.   The state police will be patrolling our borough for the shifts that are not covered for the active police officers we do have."

She tells Eyewitness News that her plan is to hire new officers to replace those that resigned, adding that advertisements have been placed in local newspapers.