Welcome to Community Relations Unit for the Township of Spring Police Department. The current administration of the Police Department feels that one of the most important aspects of a Police Department is the relationship between the community and the police officers. To address this area, the Community Relations Unit was formed. The goal of the unit is to create a positive working relationship between the community and the Police Department. The unit works to achieve this goal by making the Police Department more active in the community, to create and nurture a better rapport with the citizens of the Township of Spring and by providing ways to prevent crimes from occurring in the Township.

What can the community do to help achieve our goal?

Sergeant Barry Marchut is the leader of the Community Relations Unit.  The Unit has several programs available to the community:

• PA Crime Victims Compensation Act
• Appearances
• Tours of the Police Department
• Future Programs
• Sponsorship of Programs
  
  A strong community can only exist with the help of a strong Police Department, but a strong Police Department can only exist with the help of a strong community. This is only the first step in making our community and Police Department strong. Please find a way to get involved and help us meet our goals.

Officer Commendation/Complaint Form

You are a victim of a crime. What are your rights as the victim? If you are a resident of Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth has in place a law to help crime victims. 

Officers will provide crime victims with a Crime Victim Compensation packet and application.  The packet explains the process for having the Commonwealth potentially cover various expenses a crime victim may incur.  In addition the packet provides crime victims with a list of organizations that are available in Berks County that can assist the victim.

A downloadable version of the Crime Victim Compensation Claim Form and other victim information can be found on the following website:

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/available_services/14558/financial_assistance/600143

The unit is available to appear at a variety of group functions. Our Community Relations officers have given presentations to various groups on topics such as telemarketing fraud, charity fraud, seatbelt awareness, dealing with strangers, Mc Gruff (the crime fighting dog), Eddie the Eagle (gun safety awareness), and other programs as requested from the community..
Anyone interested in having an officer attend a function please contact Sgt. Marchut at the office at (610) 678-3431 or by Email: BMarchut@springtwpberks.org.

The unit would also like to give the business community an opportunity to get involved. The unit has several programs it would like to provide, but there still is a need for sponsorship to make them a reality. One popular form of Community Involvement is the Police Officer Baseball Card Program. Businesses in the Township have sponsored Officers’ baseball style cards which are then handed out to the children in the area.   Each card has an Officer’s picture on it, a short biography, and crime prevention tip.  Each business that contributes to this program will have their business acknowledged on the card. This would be an excellent way to advertise your business.

Another program our Community Relations Unit gets a lot of requests for is the Kid Card ID Kit.  The Unit provides a parent/guardian with a card containing the child’s photograph, thumb print, and other vital information that would be useful in the event the child would go missing. The child is also given a similar card to carry with him/her. 
Various brochures, publications, and miscellaneous trinkets are provided to the public at various events and functions.  Because of the ever growing expense involved in purchasing these items, a business can help us by being a sponsor.