The discussions regarding a potential regional police force between Ashland and Butler Township have remained relatively quiet since late 2023, but recent developments indicate that the project is still under consideration.
In September 2023, both municipalities formed steering committees to explore the feasibility of merging their police departments. While an initial report was produced, progress had stalled—until the Ashland Borough Council revisited the matter at its March 12th meeting.
During the session, Councilman John Reilly introduced a motion to hire a law firm to provide consultation services on the regionalization effort.
“We’ve been in the midst of a study for regionalization, and there is a lot of work involved in that. We will need some specialist attorneys,” Reilly stated during the meeting.
To assist in the legal aspects of the initiative, Ashland Borough Council selected the law firm Pugliese, Finnegan, Shaffer & Ferentino LLC to serve as consultants at a rate of $200 per hour. Chief Daley had presented council members with three potential law firms before the final decision was made.
While the hiring of legal counsel marks a step forward, borough officials emphasized that the regionalization of the police force is not a certainty. The decision to bring in legal specialists is intended to ensure the council has the necessary expertise to navigate the complexities of the process and determine the best course of action for both communities.