Plum Borough Council heard from two residents and one of its own members Monday night who are against the proposed summary arrest ordinance.

Council will vote on the ordinance Monday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. in the borough building.

The ordinance would allow officers to take people into custody when charged with summary offenses -- but only in four specific situations. Officers would be able to take people into custody for public drunkenness, disorderly conduct, underage drinking or blocking a highway.

Both men who spoke out against the idea of a summary arrest said they feared they would be losing their civil liberties. The men also referred to Hitler and the Gestapo in their discussions, but admitted they hadn't read the ordinance yet.

Council members vehemently denied any civil liberties would be lost with the passage of this ordinance.

"Last time I checked public intoxication is a crime, obstructing a highway is a crime," said Mayor Rich Hrivnak, who echoed what Plum Police Chief Frank Monaco said at last month's meeting when the chief told residents no one will lose their rights because no one has the right to break the law.

Dave Vento, councilman, asked why the ordinance is needed if the circumstances it covers are already crimes.

"Just because everyone else does it doesn't mean we need to do it," said Vento. "There are all kinds of ways to arrest someone without a warrant. Laws can be abused by law enforcement."

Don Flickinger, councilman, said the biggest drawback in the ordinance will be the need for the department to monitor itself so it isn't abused. Monaco said last month that if the ordinance is passed he will write policy that will govern how the power is used.

"The law could mean an abuse of power," said Todd McBride, resident. "That's why we're always in the news and under a federal investigation. We're starting to get into a judgment call by the officers with this."

McBride was referring to an ongoing investigation of the police department by the FBI.

"The chief's reasons for wanting this are not too good," said resident Edgar Beruh, who went on to say that if a person continued to defy an officer after a warning it would eventually amount to a misdemeanor offense that would give the officer the right to take the person into custody.

Monaco did not ask council to approve this ordinance, said Paul Dern, councilman, "Council asked to do this because Plum Borough is the only municipality in Pennsylvania that doesn't have this ordinance."

Mike Thomas, borough manager, agreed with Dern and said in most municipalities the ordinance is tougher.

The ordinance is available at the borough building for residents to read before council's voting meeting Monday night.