Politics & Government

Council Approves Firing of Nazareth Officer Fred Lahovski

Nazareth Borough Council unanimously -- and without discussion -- approves a motion Tuesday night to fire Officer Fred Lahovski.

unanimously approved a motion Tuesday night to remove Officer Fred Lahovski from the borough Police Department.

According to the motion -- made by Councilman Michael Kopach and seconded by Councilman Jack Herbst -- the borough has exercised its authority under Section 1121(a)(2) of the Borough Code that gives council the power to remove any borough police officer.

There was no discussion before or after the vote.

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With the removal of Lahovski, who did not attend Tuesday's meeting, the borough is down to two full-time officers.

Two of the four hired in July are on the job, according to Police Chief Thomas Trachta. However, Council approved a motion Tuesday night to terminate the hiring process for Ray Mead because the time to complete the process had run out.

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Trachta continues to request the hiring of three full-time officers. At a workshop meeting Thursday night, Herbst said that "isn't going to happen right now." That was the end of the discussion.

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The Nazareth Borough Police Association in July . The complaint claims retaliation against the union was behind the recent suspensions and demotion of Lahovski, a five-year member of Nazareth's department.

At the recommendation of Mayor Fred Daugherty Jr., Police Chief Thomas Trachta informed Lahovski of his demotion from detective to patrolman on March 17. No reason, however, was given for the termination, according to the complaint.

Lahovski, who is also the, Luzerne County, then received a  after receiving two disciplinary notices. According to a report in The Express-Times, one notice concerned , the second concerned his ordering of fingerprinting equipment .

Lahovski's suspension, which was scheduled to end Aug. 6, was extended to Aug. 22 without pay.


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