Politics & Government

Nazareth Wants to Hire Full Time Cops

Seeking applicants is step in rebuilding force; two councilmen exchange angry words over delays in hiring part-timers.

Written by Jack Tobias

In a step forward to rebuilding its police department, Nazareth borough will advertise for applicants to fill full-time police positions.

The goal is to have a police department wth at least six full-time officers as well as a chief, Councilman Jack Herbst, chairman of council’s police committee, said at Monday night’s committee meeting.

The current force consists of Chief Thomas Trachta, two full-time officers and a number of part-timers.

The effort to rebuild comes after last month’s declaration that there is no chance the borough will join the Colonial Regional police force.

The advertisement for full-time officers will be placed Wednesday, Herbst said.

”We’re headed in the right direction, 100 percent,” Councilman Charles Donello, a committee member, said in reference to advertising for full-timers.

Earlier in the meeting, however, Donello said he wasn’t happy with delays in hiring needed part-time officers.

”We are understaffed,” he declared, and spent several minutes exchanging angry words with council president Dan Chiavaroli.

At one point, the councilmen argued about who has copies of applicants’ paperwork.

”I don’t want to hear your bull----,” Donello told Chiavaroli.

Chiavaroli countered with expressions such as “your foot’s in your mouth so deep” and “you put words in everybody’s mouth.”

Trachta, meanwhile, complained that he has been “attacked” with “false allegations” by residents who claim he is not available to the public. The chief said he wants to hold a “community town hall meeting” to talk to residents about police issues.

But the council members instructed Trachta to hold off scheduling such a meeting until the new full-time officers have joined the force.

Chiavaroli explained after the meeting that hiring the new officers is in the hands of the borough’s three-member civil service commission. He said the commission prepared the help-wanted ad.

Herbst said after the meeting that part-time officers will be hired soon and that hiring the part-timers will be in the hands of council’s hiring committee.

But during the meeting, there was some question on when that hiring will occur.

Herbst said “there is no decision whether or not we’re going to hire.” Asked by Donello when a decision on hiring will be made, Herbst said “within the next few weeks.”

After Donello and Chiavaroli exchanged words, Mayor Carl Strye Jr. said he doesn’t know when part-timers will be hired.

And when Trachta, who earlier said the force is losing a part-timer next month, asked when borough officials will meet to hire officers, Chiavaroli said the answer will come in an executive session that was held after Monday night’s committee meeting.

Before the session began, Herbst said the topics would be “contractual matters and possible litigation.” Executive sessions are closed to the public.

Trachta said he has recommended three part-timers to be hired from the applications received. Strye said 20 to 25 people applied to be part-timers.

And Chiavaroli said he isn’t sure of the number of part-timers who will eventually be hired.

When the mayor and councilmen were asked about Trachta’s status, Chiavaroli said the chief continues to work on a month-to-month basis under the terms of an expired contract. Trachta said the contract expired 18 months ago.


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