Columbia police chief tells Borough Council department is understaffed, overstretched and "not sustainable"
Columbia Borough Police Chief Holly Arndt addressed council Tuesday night. JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY Police Chief Holly Arndt told Columbia Borough Council on Tuesday night that her department is operating with too few officers, too little administrative support and almost no legal guidance. She said that "continued operation without addressing these issues would NOT be responsible." Arndt, who took command of the department May 1, delivered a lengthy prepared statement at council's October 13 meeting. She described a department in need of what she called "a foundational rebuild." Arndt said the department has 13 patrol officers, one of them on light duty. It has no lieutenant and no administrative sergeant. By comparison, the borough website, (which still lists Brommer as chief) describes a department of 19 full-time officers, three part-time officers and two full-time support staff. Since August 25, officers have answered 1,784 calls for service, which Arn...