Colonial Regional Given Deadline for Police Proposal

The clock is now ticking on the Colonial Regional Police Department.

Nazareth Borough Councilman Jack Herbst presented a motion—approved by council—giving Colonial Regional until council's June 27 work session to present a proposal on how it would handle the borough's police operations.

"I want to receive an answer from Colonial Regional by our July meeting," Herbst first suggested.

Councilman Charles Donello thought it would be better to have the proposal in hand so council could discuss it at the June 27 work session.

The Borough Council has waited for months for Colonial Regional to present its plan for overseeing police operations.

Officials say they want Colonial Regional as their first option—with revamping the current police department as an alternative.

But Colonial Regional missed a Jan. 1 deadline and council has waited ever since as the proposal has been discussed by the municipalities that comprise Colonial Regional -- Lower Nazareth and Hanover (Northampton County) townships and the borough of Bath.

Officials have raised questions about police coverage on weekends and have gotten into a war of words with Police Chief Thomas Trachta over his scheduling of police personnel, including part-time officers.