Another Police Officer Leaves

Another officer has left the Coatesville Police Department. This is the second police officer to go to another department in recent weeks. According to sources, many Coatesville officers have been looking for other jobs since the administration kicked around a cop layoff plan earlier this year. Now the administration is considering downsizing the department through attrition. Another officer quit not long ago. At that time, I asked City Manager Harry Walker and Police Chief William Matthews if they were looking to fill the position. They both said the administration wouldn't make any efforts to fill the slot until a recently appointed "right sizing" committee determined the "appropriate" size of the police department. The department is down to 33 officers -- that includes the chief. -- JM