Like we've said before, Nazareth Borough's Mayor and Council are grossly misunderstanding the situation. They do not have the leverage to give demands about hiring their officers, foot patrols or leasing their police station. Everyone who has read a newspaper or watched the story unfold on Patch knows that Nazareth is in dire straits with its police force. It's been underfunded and mismanaged for many years and they need a solution immediately.

It's no surprise that the municipalities and Colonial Regional are going to laugh at Nazareth's demands and then it will be no surprise when the Mayor of Nazareth becomes indignant with the replies he gets. The ones not laughing, are the folks who live in Nazareth borough, have children who attend school in the borough or frequently do business in local Nazareth shops.

Great article, by the way. The Patch does a very good job at passing along these local stories with all the details.

Not to mention all the drama in Nazareth with the Mayor and Council- it is no wonder that Colonial Regional is not an option. Why would anyone want to get involved w/ an area where elected council members think they should be able to run the show- concerning police matters. Do any of these council members have a law enforcement background or any kind of background that would make anyone think they know what they are doing concerning police in the borough? This "Shopping around" is just a stall tactic and the residents in the area are paying for it. This nonsense affects anyone living in and visiting the borough- why can't they just get their "crap" together and do the right thing.

People getting stabbed and robbed outside their homes, drunks causing brawls and other nuisance problems in the borough- cause anyone who used to pay patronage to Nazareth, to not want to go here. We can all go somewhere else to do our busines and socialize, where we know there will be police coverage when it is needed. When the crime rate goes up and more criminal element starts hanging out in Nazareth because they know they may get away with whatever they plan on doing- Maybe then something will get done. It is a shame that it may have to come to that..Nazareth used to be such a great place to be.

Unreal!!

round and round and round we go. A proposal that gives an outside dept almost a quarter of a million more dollars a year than the council budgets to the current dept.
When are they going to tell the taxpayers what the tax increase is going to be and what exactly the coverage will be. The increase should have already been figured out at 2.8 million for 3 years. then whats this about January. Didn't here that at the council mtg when Herbst was reading the proposal. I honestly think that the legal challenges to come should this occur will wake us all up. There is oh so much more to this story than we are aware of at this point. I mean they vote to hire yet don't. Why don't they just tell us what is already decided no matter what the proposal interest is?

Has anyone looked at PAST PRACTICE of the Council at police contract renewal time? My god people, this has been a tactic used numerous times with success, and suffering. This time there is much suffering! NAZARETH police call volume and type for the Borough creates a need for 4 officers per shift every shift. That would be a staff of 12 total if you want the math done for you. Nazareth has a stable and capable tax base to support a staffing increase to these numbers, however, that would lessen councils bargaining power. How, you ask? In PAST PRACTICE, Council places requests or demands upon the current officers that causes undue stress through overperformance of duties. This places officers and people at risk. Health and home life begin to suffer for those involved and relief is sought. That may be why Nazareth has less than PREVAILING WAGE when compared to neighboring departments. That may be why Nazareth has LESS THAN required MINIMUM STAFFING REQUIRED compared to neighboring departments. THAT IS EXACTLY why injuries and insurance claims happen, and the list goes on. What is a human life/security worth? By the rate of action that Council has taken, they choose to shop at -your risk- dear citizens. Meanwhile they deepen the quagmire of stagnation, at risk to all. To see the police force at proper size would be wonderful however costly. The idea of 5 officers doing the work of 12 is ridiculous and risky. That would be a repeat of 2007.

I miss you all and pray for your wellbeing. May there be peace and tranquility this holiday season for you.

thanks Jason. As I said before. the legal fees (you'd be shocked) and the comp insurance issue are councils fault for failing to reman an maintain a dept properly which once was and constantly interferring with law enforcements job.(some council members). Every excuse in the book has been used to put the blame everywhere except where it mostly belongs.. Just my opion but look at the facts. I understand know one comes forth with the truth because we all need our jobs but until the real truth is told this will simply continue on.