Police shortage sparks 'emergency measures' in Delaware County town
COLLINGDALE, Pa. - The divide in one small Delaware County borough continues.
Officials in Collingdale are taking action after an "unusual" series of call-outs by the borough's police department starting last week.
On Sunday, Borough Manager, C. Michael Robinson, put out a statement outlining more staffing issues with the police department, saying the borough had to call an emergency meeting to ensure they had coverage on Sunday night.
Two shifts were left unattended on Friday before another officer was added to the department's staffing gap on Sunday, according to Borough Manager C. Michael Robinson.
"Collingdale Borough is taking immediate action to ensure public safety following a series of unusual police call-outs," Robinson said.
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After current officers declined overtime to cover Sunday's shift, officials decided to swear in Officer Kevon Darden to provide "critical coverage."
Darden is one of four new officers whose hire was recently approved by the borough's council, along with the reinstatement of another officer.
Robinson told FOX 29’s Kelly Rule over the phone they chose to bring in Officer Kevon Darden early. Officer Darden was supposed to be sworn in with three other new officers during Tuesday night’s council meeting, but he agreed to start earlier, so the department had staffing on Sunday night.
Robinson says Darden is not new to law enforcement or Delaware County, and previously completed the police academy.
Traditionally, the mayor or a judge would do the swearing in. However, Mayor of Collingdale, Donna Matteo Spadea, says she did not feel comfortable swearing in an officer to immediately start working that she had no information on, so she refused to do so.
"The lack of coverage in our community by our police force is unexcused, yet my feelings of having untrained officers on the street is something I will stand by," she said in a statement to FOX 29. Judge Lee Grimes tells FOX 29 he also chose not to swear the officer in.
That’s when things took an even more unusual turn.
Robinson says they went to a Notary Public to swear Officer Darden in early, and he says it is legal, according to the borough solicitor.
In a statement, he said, in part, "Leadership requires making difficult decisions when faced with adversity, and today’s actions were necessary to maintain public safety and uphold the integrity of our police operations."
"The operational integrity of the Collingdale Police Department remains my highest priority," Collingdale Police Department Chief Shanee Mitchell said. "Our department is committed to providing continuous, professional service, even in moments of staffing challenges. Leadership through adversity means making difficult choices to uphold public safety and ensuring that proper protocols are followed at every level. We will continue to lead with accountability and remain focused on serving this community with the respect and protection it deserves."
It’s the latest controversy in Collingdale following the hiring of a new police chief, Shanee Mitchell, back in November. Her new leadership came at a time when the borough council is deeply divided, and the state police had to help with responding to off-hour calls. On Sunday, they were on standby, along with DELCO Sector 4, to help with any further staffing shortages.
FOX 29 reached out to Chief Mitchell for comment on Monday, but we are still waiting to hear back.
Pennsylvania State Police and DELCO Sector 4 agencies are also currently on standby to help with any further staffing shortages.