Numerous Changes Planned for Palmer Police Department

Beginning his third month as police chief, Larry Palmer has already pushed for

, purchased an and is pursuing for Palmer Township.

"I'm only just beginning," he said. "There's so much to do."

Recently, he presented supervisors with a new policy on hiring personnel and also sought to have several motor vehicles removed from his ranks.

Supervisors approved a motion for bids to sell an emergency vehicle, a Crown Victoria and a vehicle used for a K-9 unit.

The chief said he is working on policies for a new K-9 unit and also one regarding the media.

The chief said the department just started programming fax numbers so it can provide press releases for accidents or crimes. He's also hoping at some point to provide monthly crime statistics, but is reviewing methods for releasing that information.

Meanwhile, the chief and Township Manager Christopher Christman have been working together to formulate some other plans.

One is creating space in the police station to store evidence.

"It's severely outdated and a major hurdle," Palmer said. "We need to reconfigure the station so we have some room for the future."

He said some of that space will be created by not storing some of the vehicles being sold.

Christman said the accreditation presentation raised questions about a larger discussion of the police department overall.

Another is having officers go to two, 12-hour shifts instead of three eight-hour shifts, he said.

"We're always looking at ways to make the department more cost-efficient," Supervisor Bob Lammi said.

The chief said he is also sending three officers to police executive school.

So far, Palmer said, the department is embracing his changes.

"I went to an association meeting recently," the chief said. "There was a lot of good feedback regarding the initial changes on morale."