County approves 60‑day pilot with Lycoming Regional Police to supplement 911 radio dispatch; officers won’t handle full 911 calls

County staff asked the board to approve a pilot agreement with the Lycoming Regional Police Department (LRPD) to supplement 911 radio dispatch coverage and reduce reliance on contractors. The presenter described the arrangement as funded through the 911 fund and not the county general fund, and said the LRPD officers would not take full 911 calls or handle EMD, fire or EMS dispatch. "They are not handling EMD or priority dispatch, fire, or EMS," the presenter said.

Staff estimated training would take about two to three weeks and explained officers would be invoiced at their current hourly rates, "ranging from $25.60 to $36.53 being capped at $37 an hour," with a full‑time officer costing about $6,400 a month versus roughly $15,000 per month for current contracted staffing. Commissioners praised the staff and the employee who proposed the idea. After a motion and a second, the board approved the 60‑day evaluation pilot for shift coverage, overtime avoidance and quality assurance.