May 12—Ruth Manmiller liked to refer to the Northern Berks Regional Police Department as "my department" and the officers as "my boys." After 30 years on the job, Manmiller felt a sense of ownership and motherhood in her role as the 13-member department's only nonuniformed employee. As police secretary to five chiefs, starting with the original Maidencreek-Ontelaunee Joint Police Department, .
The Northern Berks Regional Police Department lives.
In a dramatic turn of events, the Northern Berks Regional Police Commission rescinded a previous vote to disband the department during a meeting Monday night in Ontelaunee Township building.
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Representatives to the three-member commission from Ontelaunee and Leesport voted to disband, while Maidencreekâs representative opposed the move.
Mondayâs vote, which was unanimous, breathes new life into the troubled department.
In a surprise announcement, the police commission announced the Chief Brian Horner will retire in the next few months.
Sgt. Robert Wood Jr. has been named officer in charge during a transition of leadership.