PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Radnor Township Board of Commissioners passed an ordinance Monday that, if abortion becomes illegal in Pennsylvania, would prevent township police from arresting or investigating anyone involved in an abortion service.
Commissioners voted 4-2, with one person abstaining, to add an amendment that would ban police from making arrests related to providing or receiving an abortion.
The ordinance, however, wouldn’t actually take effect unless Roe v. Wade is overturned, and if Pennsylvania then makes abortions illegal.
In the race for governor of the commonwealth, Republican candidate Doug Mastriano has said he would ban all abortions with no exceptions. On the Democratic side, Attorney General Josh Shapiro is in favor of abortions.
Those who voted for the ordinance, like Commissioner Maggy Myers, said the goal is to protect women’s reproductive rights.
“We can’t do anything about Roe v. Wade, but what we can do is hold the purse strings and we can say what our police can do and can’t do financially,” she said.
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“We will not use their tax dollars, and members of the township police department … would not affect arrest,” added Jack Larkin, who voted for the ordinance, “which would be in violation of the Constitution as it stands today.”
AnnaMarie Jones was one of the two commissioners who voted against the ordinance, pointing to the role of officers in the community.
“I just want to be cautious when it comes to the restrictions that we place on our police,” she said.
Jake Abel argued it shouldn’t be up to commissioners to tell police which laws they should and shouldn’t enforce.
“This board has thrown our police department directly in the middle of a political debate, making their job harder than it has to be,” he said.
Sean Farhy did not vote, calling the ordinance a political stunt.