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Lawmakers Look Closely at Costly Frein Manhunt

PRICE TOWNSHIP — The cost of the search for alleged cop killer Eric Frein continues to rise by the minute in Monroe County. Now lawmakers are beginning to...

PRICE TOWNSHIP -- The cost of the search for alleged cop killer Eric Frein continues to rise by the minute in Monroe County.

Now lawmakers are beginning to weigh in on this pricey manhunt and what they believe should be done with taxpayer money.

Roadblocks were seen again just off Route 447 in Price Township on day 32 of the manhunt.

Frein still continues to hide from troopers.

State police tell us that Frein was possibly sighted again Monday night in the Price and Barrett Townships area.

But as troopers continue to search for Frein lawmakers are beginning to worry about not just his apprehension, but the price tag that goes along with it.

"Government should always be concerned about how and how well we spend the taxpayers money, but I think the public rightfully expects that we devote whatever resources are necessary to catch this guy," said Senator Rob Teplitz, D-Dauphin/York.

Lt. Col. George Bivens said at a news conference last week that the cost was already several millions of dollars.

Estimates have been made that this manhunt is costing more than one million dollars per week with no end in sight.

Local lawmakers still believe the search should continue.

"There`s a lot of wooded area in my county. I`m in Lackawanna County and this is right next to it. In Monroe and Pike there`s a lot of open acreage, thousands of acres where this guy can be, so I think it`s imperative we catch this person so he`s not a threat to the community," said Representative Marty Flynn, D-113.

It's an issue both democrats and republicans are appearing to agree upon.

With the continued search, it's unclear how much more state police will need to pay for this search, but support to continue remains strong, even without confirmed sightings of Frein.

"Ah, they`re very confident that he`s in that area, and they`re very cautious and i think it`s imperative that we are very careful in apprehending him," Rep. Flynn said.

A state police spokeswoman told Newswatch 16 that state police are not requesting any dollar amount from lawmakers in Harrisburg.

Troopers have also not held a news conference since last Wednesday, updating the public on their search efforts.

There's been no word on when state police might update the public again as the manhunt drags on.

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