The Taylor Police Department extended its coverage to Ransom Twp. at the start of the year, and now more than three months into the agreement, officials from both towns are happy with the results.
“It’s been really smooth,” Police Chief Brian Holland said. “We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback from the residents. They’re really thrilled with the increased presence.”
Taylor extended its police protection to Ransom Twp. on Jan. 1 as part of a one-year agreement between the neighboring municipalities that automatically renews in years two and three. Ransom Twp. is paying Taylor $287,232 for police protection in 2025, with 4% increases in 2026 and 2027. Taylor determined the funding figure based on what it currently pays for police services per capita and then applying that to Ransom Twp.’s population. Either town can terminate the contract with 90 days’ notice through a no-fault out in the agreement.
Ransom Twp. had previously contracted with South Abington Twp. for police services, but that agreement ended Dec. 31, 2023, when contract negotiations broke down between the towns. Lacking its own police department, Ransom Twp. received police services through Pennsylvania State Police in 2024. Ransom had explored a police agreement with Clarks Summit in 2024 that would have provided the township with its own dedicated, full-time police officer, but that also did not work out, prompting the township to turn to state police, which provides coverage for towns that do not have their own departments.
In January, as part of the agreement, Ransom Twp. paid for the Taylor Police Department’s three-year lease of a 2024 Chevrolet Tahoe Police Pursuit Vehicle, which cost $97,197.59 after being upfitted with police equipment. The Tahoe PPV, the ninth patrol vehicle in Taylor’s fleet, was intended to offset the wear-and-tear from the expanded coverage area.
The new vehicle has “Also serving Ransom Township” emblazoned on its rear window, Holland said.
Holland doesn’t anticipate his Police Department, which has 11 full-time and nine part-time officers, needing any additional equipment for Ransom Twp.
“I think we’re set,” he said. “Nothing on the horizon that I see in terms of Ransom Twp.”
Under the agreement, Taylor absorbed the township into one of its existing police patrol zones, with Ransom now being part of the zone that encompasses everything west of Keyser Avenue, Holland said.
“What that lends itself to is more efficiency, so there should be more of a presence in each one of those designated zones,” he said.
Officers at first had to learn their expanded coverage area, so the initial goal was to gain experience, get to know the people and get to know the lay of the land, Holland said.
“It’s gone really well,” he said. “Usually on a weekly basis, one of (the officers) who’s assigned to that zone talks about how a resident flagged them down and expressed how happy they were with the increased presence that they’re seeing.”
So far, Taylor has had some officer-initiated activities in Ransom, including helping motorists and some traffic enforcement, Holland said.
The first major police incident for Taylor police in Ransom Twp. occurred around 3:14 a.m. on April 9 when a fire broke out at the former Cascades Tissue plant along Main Street in Ransom, destroying the vacant facility. A state police fire marshal determined it was arson.
Firefighters responded to the former Cascades Tissue facility on Main Street in Ransom Township just before 4 a.m. Wednesday and found the building in flames. (COURTESY OF NEPA FIRE PHOTOGRAPHY)
The Taylor Police Department and state police are jointly investigating the arson, Holland said.
“We work together really well, and we were able to help each other with this case in particular,” he said of his department’s work with state police.
Having the Taylor Police Department patrolling their town gives comfort to residents, said Dave Bird, chairman of Ransom Twp.’s board of supervisors.
“There’s always a car being seen,” he said. “It puts everybody at ease.”
The agreement has worked out great so far, Bird said, commending the officers for their professionalism.
Holland reaches out to him to see how things are going, if the township needs anything and if there’s been any negative feedback, but there have been no problems, Bird said. Feedback from residents has been positive, he said.
“Our residents are so thrilled to see them. They’ve never seen this much coverage,” Bird said. “All in all, it’s a great fit for the township.”
Monday Update
THEN: Taylor and Ransom Twp. enter into an agreement for the Taylor Police Department to extend its coverage to Ransom beginning Jan. 1.
NOW: Now more than three months into the agreement, officials from both towns are happy with agreement, with Taylor police working on an arson investigation in the township.