Luzerne County Council rejects proposed ordinance targeting sexual orientation discrimination

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Hillary Clinton for President campaign headquarters opens in Wilkes-Barre

<p>PLYMOUTH &#8212; The borough council on Tuesday announced its intent to rescind a police cooperation agreement with Edwardsville, Larksville, Courtdale and Plymouth Township that had been in place since 1974.</p><p>According to borough Solicitor Mike Kostelansky, the borough will terminate the agreement because of concerns about liability.</p><p>Kostelansky said when the ordinance implementing the agreement was passed, the borough was dispatching officers making the agreement necessary. He said subsequent statewide municipal police jurisdiction legislation and the Luzerne County 911 system has made the ordinance unneeded.</p><p>According to Kostelansky, the state legislation made it possible for police to render assistance in any jurisdiction when necessary.</p><p>Liability, he said, arose because the original ordinance required a joint advisory board for oversight, which is no longer in existence</p><p>Plymouth Borough Police Chief Ryan Williams assured meeting attendees that rescinding the ordinance would not put residents or police officers in jeopardy and that West Side police departments would be able to assist each other.</p><p>Following the meeting, Larksville Police Chief John Edwards questioned the timing of the move, saying he believes that it was predicated on discussions between the Larksville Police Department and the Wyoming Valley West School District regarding the placement of officer Joshua Evans and K-9 officer Una in the high school.</p><p>&#8220;This will definitely affect our policy in assisting Plymouth,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But, of course, I&#8217;ll have to meet with the mayor and council.&#8221;</p><p>Edwards said that he would never put the life or safety of another officer or resident at risk.</p><p>He feels, however, that the Larksville department has been asked to refrain from coming to Plymouth, even when a request for help had been made over the scanner.</p><p>&#8220;This agreement has remained in place for decades,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Why would they take this action now?&#8221;</p><p>Edwards produced a text message that he said he sent to Williams, requesting that the two mend fences and work together with no apparent response from Williams.</p><p>Williams said that he had not received the text and that Edwards efforts were not above board.</p><p>At Tuesday&#8217;s meeting, resident John O&#8217;Rourke addressed concerns about the decision</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m really only concerned for the safety of the officers,&#8221; O&#8217;Rourke said.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>What&#8217;s next</strong></p><p>The next meeting of the Plymouth Borough Council is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Sept. 13.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Plymouth to pull out of police mutual aid agreement