SEVEN FIELDS — The borough has officially severed ties with Cranberry Township regarding a long-standing police agreement.

Seven Fields for more than a decade has contracted police services with neighboring Cranberry, a partnership that now will come to an end.

The borough council Monday night voted to finally end its agreement with the township, which will stop providing police protection to Seven Fields at the end of next year.

After that, Seven Fields will partner with Evans City in creating a regional police department that is expected to be running in January of 2015.

Seven Fields Manager Tom Smith on Tuesday thanked Cranberry for many years of police services, but added that the cost of those services “is not sustainable” for Seven Fields.

“It’s been a long relationship and it’s sad it’s coming to an end,” Smith said. “But I think (Cranberry’s) needs are maybe different than ours. We’re looking for more of a small town community policing where the officers are known by name.”

Smith added that the separation with Cranberry has been a “long, thoughtful process,” but said it is a “win-win” situation for both municipalities.

Cranberry Manager Jerry Andree said Tuesday the township is prepared to move ahead without Seven Fields’ monetary contributions to its police budget.

According to officials, Seven Fields will pay $366,000 to Cranberry in 2014 for police coverage.

The township is prepared for the severance, Andree said, largely because Seven Fields has been planning for more than a year to contract elsewhere for police.

“This was all anticipated in a slow separation process that allows both municipalities to respond appropriately,” he said. “These conversations have been ongoing for about a year. We’re fully prepared to move on and we wish them the very best.”

Andree said that the loss of Seven Fields’ funds is “not of a concern” in Cranberry’s $20 million budget.