RESIDENTS REACT TO LOSS OF POLICE FORCE

BENTLEYVILLE - Whenever a community's police department is disbanded,
the decision rarely is popular. Bentleyville residents responded in a
predictable way to borough council's decision Tuesday night to
disband the police force and to depend on state police coverage.

"That's not safe at all," Angela Mock said. "We need local police in
Bentleyville. There is too much action going on in Bentleyville for
us not to have our own police.

"We need police here at all times. I live in the Bentleyville
Apartments and I just saw first-hand (Tuesday) night how bad things
can be. There was a fight going on and no state police showed up.

"State police only come out in an emergency and there is too much
drug activity going on. It goes on 24 hours a day. It's a terrible decision."

Dave Garber is a Ellsworth resident, but said he has seen good work
by the Bentleyville police, particularly Lt. Mark Kavakich, in the
war on drugs.

"(Kavakich) was always after the drug dealers," Garber said. "He never let up."

Garber criticized the decision by council to go public about the
decision to depend on state police coverage.

"I think it was a bad decision to put it in the newspaper," Garber
said. "It sends a message that it's OK to do anything in Bentleyville
now. Bentleyville police did do a good job and now there will be a
lot of problems around here."

Jody Zavora, an employee of Pretty Petals flower shop, said she does
not live in Bentleyville but added that customers complained about
the decision.

"They aren't too happy," she said. "I guess that's safe to say.
People in the town are upset. They don't feel as secure. A lot of
people are talking about it."

Sadie Hixenbaugh said she didn't think she would ever see the day
that Bentleyville did not have its own police.

"I didn't think they could do that," she said of council's decision.
"Our police were always good. Are state police going to come down
here and live? I don't like the sound of this at all. It's not right."

Gertrude Silbaugh said Bentleyville residents deserve police
protection 24 hours a day.

"We all need protection right now," Silbaugh said. "I think all small
communities should do what they can to keep their police departments.
I think it's a shame, really."

Sam Scicchitano said he was not surprised to see the new council
members disband the force.

"That's what they said they would do and they did it," he said. " ...
I don't know too much about it. We'll have to wait and see how it works out."

One local businessman who did not want to be identified said he was
willing to give state police the benefit of the doubt.

"I have faith in state police and we should give them a chance. I
guess sometimes communities have to do what they have to do to make
ends meet," he said.