The Borough’s Contraditions: Lies or Ignorance?

Ever since the police matter was leaked to the press last February, the Borough has scrambled to put its spin on this issue in a way that makes them look like they’ve planned this confusion all along. But the deeper we’ve delved into their statements, they seem to show a lack of any plan whatsoever. They seem to be making it up as they go along.

Below, we’ve compiled a list of statements made by George Locke that clearly indicates his shift of thinking in response to Jenkintown residents calling into question the wisdom of disbanding our police force.

The Correspondences Tell the Tale

All correspondences here were obtained by Right-to-Know requests filed by Jenkintown Matters.

This letter excerpt from the Abington Township Police Association sent to the Jenkintown Police Benevolent Association from February 2, 2024 just before Glenside Local revealed Jenkintown Borough’s apparent intention to dissolve its police, and instead explore an arrangement with Abington to provide policing services.

. . . Mr. Manfredi [Abington Township Manager] relayed the following information. In the summer of 2023, he attended one meeting in Jenkintown, in which he was informed that they would be discussing the announcement of the Abington Police Department assuming police services for Jenkintown Borough. Mr. Manfredi related to us that he was not interested in that proposal. He also told us that all prior discussions occurred at the police department level. [emphasis added]

However, the emails and correspondences we received via RTK show George Locke telling a different story. This from Mr. Locke sent to Kevin Feeley of Bellevue Communications last July indicates his expectation to have a quick decision from Mr. Manfredi.

From: George Locke <glocke@jenkintownboro.com>
Sent: Friday, July 28, 2023 10:48 AM
To: Feeley, Kevin <kfeeley@bellevuepr.com>
Cc: Jay Conners <jconners@jenkintownboro.com>
Subject: RE: Jenkintown PD Contract

I met with the Abington Manager on Wednesday, and he expects to have a solid
answer/offer in no more then [sic] 2 weeks. . . . [emphasis added]

A little more than two weeks later, Mr. Locke sent a follow up to Bellevue with the bad news. Further, he informs Mr. Feeley that the Borough intends to strategize other options using Bellevue’s help. Note that this email was sent six months before the news was leaked to the public, upon which the Borough still maintained the possibility of contracting with Abington or perhaps Cheltenham.

From: George Locke <glocke@jenkintownboro.com>
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2023 5:36 PM
To: Feeley, Kevin <kfeeley@bellevuepr.com>; Neilon, Michael <mneilon@bellevuepr.com>
Cc: Jay Conners <jconners@jenkintownboro.com>
Subject: RE: Jenkintown PD Contract

. . . On another note, we’ve had a meeting with our neighbors, and the concept we had discussed with you is no longer on the table for us.

We are arranging a strategy meeting forthwith with our small group of Councilors, Mayor and Chief that you’ve met and will follow up with you following that meeting as we will know better our immediate future path and how best we think can utilize your expertise. [emphasis added]

This email to reporter Deanna Durante at WCAU, Channel 10 sent shortly after the news was leaked denies any talks or negotiations with any neighboring community, when in fact they did reach out to Abington Township.

From: George Locke <glocke@jenkintownboro.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 7, 2024 5:53 PM
To: Durante, Deanna (NBCUniversal, WCAU)
Cc: Tom Scott; Jay Conners
Subject: RE: Police merger ?

. . . to answer a direct question asked today, I can share that no negotiations have taken place with any outside departments on this topic at this time. . . . [emphasis added]

This Glenside Local article from February 8, 2024, quotes Council President Jay Conners clearly misrepresenting the facts. His Borough Manager clearly did have “talks” with his counterpart in Abington, Richard Manfredi.

. . . In a subsequent phone interview, [Jay] Conners emphasized that no talks or negotiations with neighboring police departments have taken place as of yet. [emphasis added]

“We were just seeing what it would look like as part of our fiduciary responsibility to save our taxpayers money and provide them with essential services,” he said. “When you’re talking about contracting, one department dissolves into the other. There was never a talk or a negotiation with another municipality.” [emphasis added]

In a subsequent Glenside Local article from February 26, 2024, Mr. Conners along with Mayor Gabe Lerman both misrepresent the facts.

When asked about the potential for contracting, Council President Jay Conners and [Mayor] Lerman reiterated that the borough never spoke to other municipalities about the issue. [emphasis added]

“No negotiations have been made so there’s no information to share,” Lerman said. “Every member of the community is encouraged to take part in this conversation. We don’t have information to share what it’d be like to contract because no talks have happened and no decisions have been made.” [emphasis added]

We hesitate to claim that Messers Locke, Conners, and Lerman are lying since that implies intent. As we’ve seen with the recent history of this Borough, it’s too often the case that the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing.

Either way, it speaks either to a lack of competence or integrity. We’re not sure which one is worse.