Nazareth Mayor Pleads Patience on Police Future

Nazareth Mayor Carl Strye Jr. has issued a statement regarding the future of the Nazareth Police Department.

After borough officials found out that Lower Nazareth Township nixed a deal last week allowing Colonial Regional Police to handle Nazareth's police coverage,  Strye sent a statement to Nazareth Patch in which he blamed an unnamed former police officer for some troubles.

"It is with regret we have these ongoing issues with a former police officer who is holding Nazareth hostage," Strye said.

He thanked Colonial Regional and Lower and Upper Nazareth townships for looking into the police contract possibilities.

"I totally understand your responses and concerns," the mayor said. "Nazareth will always and continue to be a good neighbor."

Strye said that "hopefully down the road, once the dust has settled," the townships will talk with the borough about "maybe someday pulling our resources together and working as one."

Strye said that rebuilding the Nazareth Police Department will take time, but that is the right move.

"I feel for the citizens of Nazareth, whose patience was running thin," he said. "Hopefully, with the announcement of rebuilding our Police Department, this will take some pressure off and we can be positive as the transaction occurs."

The mayor asked for patience.

"I urge everyone to be, again, patient as the Council moves forward," the mayor concluded. "It will not happen overnight, but it will happen in a timely fashion."