Public Safety Recommends ELPS for Security Patrols

The West Chester Borough Council Public Safety Committee made a 3-0 recommendation on Tuesday to continue contracting with ELPS Private Detective Agency for security patrols in the neighborhoods surrounding West Chester University.

ELPS was originally awarded the contract by borough council last spring so that efforts could be made to curb behavior in the neighborhoods in the southeast quadrant of the borough.

“We’ve had no negative reports about the current organization,” said West Chester police chief Scott Bohn. 

The current contract with ELPS is set to expire at the end of January, and the borough recently sent out a request for proposal to see who would conduct the patrols for the rest of 2013.

The low bidders were Allied Barton at $16.67 per hour and ELPS at $18.50 per hour.

“I have no opinion either way,” Bohn said.  “I trust that my officers are professional enough to work with whoever.”

In the end, the committee recommended ELPS because of their experience and familiarity with the project.

“I’m of the mindset to keep ELPS,” said committee member John Manion.  “They’ve been working on this for a year, and they would not require the same amount of ramp-up that a new organization would.”

However, borough manager Ernie McNeely said that the borough would have to check with West Chester University before authorizing a new contract with ELPS because the university is paying for the project, and the borough did not choose the lowest bidder.

Full council will vote on whether or not to renew ELPS’ contract next Tuesday at the council work session meeting.