MERCER COUNTY Housing authority to pay for patrols

The funds to pay for the additional patrols will come from a federal drug prevention grant.
FARRELL, Pa. -- Mercer County Housing Authority will pay Southwest Mercer County Police $4,372 for increased patrols in authority apartment complexes.
The police commission approved the agreement Tuesday, but it was less than the agency sought.
The housing authority had given Southwest Regional $25,000 last year for the special patrols, many of them designated as foot patrols through its apartment complexes in Farrell.
Southwest provides police services in Farrell, Wheatland and West Middlesex, but only Farrell has authority apartments.
The money came from a federal drug prevention grant.
Planned to end service
The authority had said earlier this year that it was ending the service with Southwest, announcing instead that it would funnel that money into the state Weed & amp; Seed program focusing on eliminating crime and rebuilding neighborhoods in an area along the Farrell-Sharon border.
James DeCapua, police commission chairman, said the commission asked the authority to reconsider its decision, suggesting that it give the commission at least $6,000 to continue the increased patrols.
He said he thought the authority had agreed to that figure but the agreement presented to the commission for approval Tuesday provides only $4,372 and covers a period from now through Oct. 31. After a vote approving the pact, DeCapua directed Doug Long, interim Southwest police chief, to begin scheduling the special patrols immediately.