Board of Supervisors Statement on Police Procedures

Each Solebury Supervisor has been reviewing the policies and procedures of the Solebury Police Department as well as the details of incident reports. While the review process is not yet complete, the Board of Supervisors feels that it is important to provide the following information:

• Choke holds and similar actions — Since December of 2014, the Solebury Police Department has banned the use of “neck restraint control techniques,” which includes choke holds. Since very recently there has been a national emphasis on choke holds, Solebury’s police chief has further updated the department’s directive to specifically add the term “choke holds” as a prohibited police action.
• Special Department Accreditation — The Solebury Police Department carries special accreditation by the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association. This accreditation has only been awarded to about 10% of the police departments in Pennsylvania. None of the police departments for our surrounding communities carry this accreditation, which includes in its rules of community engagement procedures addressing de-escalation of stressful situations and sensitivity training. This training also includes cultural/ ethnic bias awareness. The Department is audited every 3 years to assure ongoing compliance.
• Discharge of a weapon — There has not been an on-duty discharge of a weapon by a member of the Solebury Police Department other than a “mercy” shooting of a critically injured animal or a shooting of a rabid animal in at least 14 years, the entire tenure of the current Solebury police chief.
• Cameras — All Solebury Police Department vehicles are outfitted with cameras. We are in the process of assessing the cost and benefits of bodycams for all officers.
• Staffing and Budgetary issues — The Board of Supervisors has reviewed with our police chief overall staffing and budgetary issues each September. These police budgetary and staffing meetings are open and advertised to the public as part of Solebury Township’s budget process.
• Updating of Policies and Procedures — Chief Bellizzie has expressed complete agreement with the Board that to the extent any changes in policies or procedures are deemed to be appropriate, they will be implemented.
• Citizens Committee — A proposal has been submitted to the Board of Supervisors that a citizens committee be established by the Township to review the role and funding of Solebury’s police department. Given all that is outlined above, there are no plans to appoint a citizens committee to review the role and funding of the police in Solebury at this time. To the extent that new information becomes available to the Board or the situation otherwise changes, appropriate action will be taken. The Board always encourages residents to make suggestions or present proposals at its public meetings.