New Hope police launch Web site

The site includes sections on parking violations, contact information, frequently asked questions and public information.

By: Cynthia Williamson
   NEW HOPE — Learning how to report a broken parking meter or obtaining directions to police headquarters is a keystroke away on the New Hope Police Department’s new Web site, www.newhopepd.org.
   "We want to make it a Web site for the community and visitors," said Mayor Laurence Keller, who introduced the new Web site at a recent council meeting.
   In addition to the introductory or home page, the site has four "pages" or sections: parking violations, contact information, frequently asked questions and public information, which includes color photographs of police cruisers "so you can distinguish between them and other police vehicles."
   The site also contains a list of the department’s full-time officers and e-mail addresses for the patrol division ([email protected]), violations bureau ([email protected]), Mr. Keller ([email protected]) and administration ([email protected]) to obtain accident reports, incident reports and "other information."
   Currently, the e-mail correspondence is sent to a central location and delivered the "old-fashioned way" by printing out the messages and hand-delivering them to the respective departments.
   The Police Department at 41 N. Main St. also can be reached by calling (215) 862-3033 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
   New Hope Officer Lorraine Victoria worked with Web page designer Marilyn Bullock to develop the site.
   "It’s going to evolve over time," said Ms. Bullock, who is editor of another Web site serving New Hope, www.newhopepennsylvania.com, which includes a link to the police site.
   Meanwhile, Mr. Keller is gathering three bids for a motorized scooter to replace at least one of the department’s two aging Cushman vehicles.
   With two of the department’s parking meter officers over age 65, he advised the council, "We desperately need one."
   "A mechanic has looked at both and said they weren’t worth repairing," said Mr. Keller, who recommended the council spend $8,821 for a "pseudo golf cart" from Golf Cars Inc. of Buckingham that has been modified with such equipment as side-view mirrors.
   While Council President Richard Hirschfield agreed, "We do badly need" a vehicle to do the 2½-mile tour around the borough, the council unanimously voted to obtain two additional bids.
   Councilman Bert Johnson also asked if there are grants available for the utility vehicle.
   "We’ve looked at grants," the mayor responded, "but it’s very unlikely we could pull that off."
   It is anticipated the council will review the bids at its Sept. 11 meeting and make a decision. Spending on the vehicle is not to exceed $10,000, the council voted.