Police Walking to Save Gas | News

MCADOO — Many of us are feeling the pinch of high gasoline prices.

One community in Schuylkill County is cutting its gas bill by having police walk the beat more.

A four-wheel-drive McAdoo Police cruiser was bought before gasoline prices were sky high. Police Officer Tony Divirgili fills the tank. The price: $3.99 a gallon. McAdoo pays the bill.

“They feel the pinch with the gas, putting gas into two cruisers. It affects everybody, it’s not just the public,” Officer Divirgili said.

So to cut down on gasoline consumption, McAdoo’s finest are parking their cruisers and walking the beat more. It saves on gas and allows officers to interact with the people they have sworn to protect and serve.

The idea of more foot patrols comes from borough council. The cruisers were being used a lot for patrolling the community and traveling out of town for court.

“That`s 2,050 miles per month and with the rate of the price of gasoline going up, we see some issue with covering our budget at the end of the year,” said John Shigo, a McAdoo councilman.

Bethany Papincak works in a restaurant.

“The price of gas is outrageous, I don’t want to fill my my tank to get to work anymore and stuff. I wish I could walk to work but I can’t,” said Papincak.

Bethany has seen police walking the beat.

“Police officers are going to be closer to them than they think now with walking patrols and I think that`s a great idea,” she added.

McAdoo officials say even if the price of gasoline drops, the foot patrols will continue.