Media Questions Mayor About Use of Police Department in Delivering Invitations

CLEARFIELD – On Wednesday media outlets in the area received their normal array of reports from area law enforcement agencies.

One of the items in the Clearfield Borough Police Department stated, “Borough police will be making deliveries of private invitations from the mayor and manager to area businesses for an announcement to be made by governor Rendell on Thursday.”

On Thursday night reporters from GantDaily, The Progress, The Courier-Express and wOK!w questioned the mayor and borough council about the item. The bulk of the questions were directed at the mayor, though the police chief and some members of council offered some comments.

Clearfield Borough Mayor Patty Gilliland explained that using the police to deliver the invitations was a public relations move.

“We, (the mayor and Leslie Stott, Clearfield Borough operations manager) thought it was a good idea,” said Gilliland.

Stott was shaking her head no at this point.

In a phone interview on Friday Stott said that initially, she was in favor of the officers delivering the invitations while they were on foot patrol.

“I agreed at that point,” said Stott.

Stott said that it came to their attention that the officers could not do that due to the fact that they were busy performing their routine duties. the operations manager said an alternative had to be found.

Gilliland said Thursday the police department delivered about 30 of the invitations, while she, the borough operations manager’s daughter and another borough office worker delivered the rest.

The mayor said that since she became mayor she has been trying to get the police force out on foot.

“It was to get them out,” said Gilliland.

She added that she was trying to get feedback from the community they are serving. Gilliland said that she has received reports that some borough residents do not even know the names of borough police officers.

Clearfield Borough Police Chief Jeff Rhone mentioned that some of the invitations were addressed outside the Clearfield area, one of which was in Shawville. Gilliland said the officer was unable to deliver it.

Gilliland was asked by members of the press about the officers taking vehicles out of the borough to deliver the invitations and whether it was a good use of Clearfield Borough taxpayer money.

She did not respond to the question itself but did state that she gets upset when borough police officers are in other jurisdictions and get into accidents with borough vehicles.

Council member Fred Wisor took umbrage to the fact borough council was not included in the planning of the governor’s visit.

“Borough council is the governing body of Clearfield Borough,” said Wisor. “With the governor coming, we should have been included.”

Gilliland explained that she was told by the governor’s office that she could not tell anyone about the trip until last Friday.

“I was told by the governor’s office to keep it quiet.”

“I think you went to the chief of police,” said Wisor.

“I think I trust my chief,” replied Gilliland.

“You can’t trust us,” asked Wisor.

Wisor also questioned the closing of Front Street.

“I thought all street closings had to be approved.”

Council member Susan Reed called the governor’s visit a very special and unique situation.

“Things had to be dealt with outside of regular channels,” said Reed. “It’s not something that’s going to happen every week.”