NCPD plans to use DA-awarded funds to increase community involvement
NEW CASTLE, Pa. (WKBN) — After being awarded thousands from the DA's office as part of a federal opioid settlement, the New Castle Police Department will be putting the funds toward increasing community involvement.
The district attorney's office won the money in a settlement as part of a federal suit against the opioid epidemic.
'We're not going to really arrest our way out of the drug problems going on, so early intervention is one of the best things we can do to try and curtail the kids from making those bad decisions later on as they grow older,' Police Chief David Cumo said.
The department will be receiving around $15,000 annually for the next three years.
Cumo said the funds will be put in part toward the department's PLAY program, which stands for Police Leading Active Youth. He said the focus is on younger kids through the high-school age group, with a concentration in junior high.
'Communication is the biggest hurdle with any problem in my opinion, and the more we can be out there, the more we're visible, the more we can answer questions that people have, kind of explain why we do the things we do when we're doing our job, I think that understanding goes a great way toward getting community support,' Cumo said.
One of the plans in the works now is to put together a junior police academy. While details have yet to be finalized, the tentative plan is for a small group of kids to come in once a week for a 6-8-week program. There they would study different facets of law enforcement with officers, such as drug prevention. Cumo said the district attorney has also expressed an interest in the program and would teach children the process of what happens after an arrest.
Cumo said community involvement and building relationships are some of the major goals of the department.
'That's the best way to help serve our community, not just be seen when there's a problem and we get sent to it.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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