Nazareth to Hire Three Part-Time Officers

agreed to hire three part-time police officers during Monday night’s meeting. Due to a shortage of officers, the State Police have been helping to cover Nazareth.

Mayor Fred Daugherty Jr. explained that officers work shifts from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., but "not every officer works 12-hour shifts."

"There are periods when we have no coverage," the mayor said. "It's because we don't have enough officers."

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Chief Thomas Trachta has been asking to hire a full-time officer since 2011. Instead, he was given permission to hire more part-timers.

Council of two part-time officers last July, but only one was hired. In September 2011, was approved but, again, only one was hired.

“This police department needs at least six full-time officers,” he has said. “We need to stop relying on part-timers and state police.”

One resident asked Daugherty Monday night whether taxpayers foot the bill for  state police.

"We're not paying,” he said, “but we don't get the service either. So it's good and it's bad."

In fact, there was other good news and bad news about the police department during the council meeting.

Council for 10 regularly scheduled working days, but did not explain why.

Police Committee Chairman Jack Herbst also announced “with regret” the resignation of police administrative assistant Lisa Kimble.

A motion passed to seek hiring a replacement.