A proposal to contract for outside police services has raised the ire of some Versailles council members and residents who worry that using an outside department could make the borough less safe.

Council members presented the proposal at a police committee meeting last Thursday and invited the public.

The meeting got out of hand, with residents and council members hurling profanities at one another and borough police had to be called, said council Vice President Pat Brown.

In the midst of the chaos, she announced her resignation and submitted a hand-written letter to council.

"I just felt at that moment that I didn't make a difference," said Ms. Brown, who added that she may rescind her resignation before the Sept. 8 council meeting.

McKeesport proposed a three-year contract that would cost Versailles $158,840 in the first year, $164,427 in the second and $170,710 in the third.

White Oak proposed a one-year contract for $139,000.

This year, Versailles will spend about $257,550 on its police department, which employs part-time officers in addition to its chief, sergeant and patrol officer.

Despite the financial benefits, Versailles Mayor Emerson Fazekas said he feared the other departments would not be able to provide the same level of service as his borough's police department, which has one officer patrolling at all times. Details regarding levels of services have not been worked out in either contract proposal.

More than that, he said, it is important that residents know the police officers patrolling the borough because it makes them more accessible.

But Councilman Bob Stanesic said he is looking out for Versailles' financial interests. He said he worries the borough will have to raise commercial taxes to continue to fund the department, which could discourage businesses from setting up shop there.

"The combination of rapidly increasing costs for payroll and benefits for our police department is too much for us to handle right now," he said.

He added that the department often uses part-time officers whom residents are not familiar with, anyway.

The money saved from using outside police services could go toward building a senior citizen community center or athletic fields, neither of which the community has, he said.

Financial issues aside, Councilman Walter Winkler said eliminating the police department could lead to a loss of identity for the borough.

"I know we're moving ... toward a consolidation of services," he said. "But I don't know if we're ready for that just yet."

Mr. Stanesic disagreed.

"The heart and soul of a town are in its people," he said. "It's not in its facilities ... it's not in its police force or ambulance service."