NORTH VERSAILLES, Pa. -- North Versailles residents attended a commissioners meeting Thursday night to protest the possibility of losing more police officers.

The borough already cut six part-time officers out of its 2009 budget. Residents are worried it may have to cut more.

Additional cuts may happen because North Versailles gets paid by Wilmerding to patrol that borough and their contract is up. If it's not renewed, North Versailles loses about $140,000 a year and perhaps three more officers.

In January, township commissioners voted to cut six part-time officers from the force.

The chief said he's going to try to get federal stimulus money to hire more officers. Some commissioners said they like the idea of a federal grant, but can't commit to agreeing to it until they know if Wilmerding will renew its contract and whether the grant will pay the entire officer's expense.

The deadline for applying for the federal grant is at the end of the month, so it should be just a matter of weeks before North Versailles residents know if they are losing more police officers.

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