Politics & Government

'No Formal Police Plan Before Us,' Councilman Says

Nazareth Police Committee provides update on status of police department's future.

The Nazareth Police Committee held its first meeting Monday night with new Mayor Carl Strye Jr. among the participants.

While 15 residents turned out to find out the status of the future of police department services in the borough at last month's meeting, only two were present Monday night.

And Councilman Jack Herbst—who chairs the police committee—stated that there's basically nothing new to report.

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"No formal policing plan has been brought before us," Herbst said. "We have nothing negotiated with Colonial."

Resident Wayne Schissler, a frequent Nazareth Patch commenter, asked the committee what the status was with negotiations involving Colonial Regional Police.

Find out what's happening in Nazarethwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Last month, the Police Committee informed residents that it was awaiting a proposal from Colonial Regional Police before deciding the fate of Police Chief Thomas Trachta and his personnel.

At the recent Borough Council meeting, Herbst said that borough officials were also negotiating with the Nazareth Police Association regarding keeping the borough's police department.

The chief had the topic as his only meeting agenda item.

"What's going on with the police department?" Trachta said. "I heard it'd be May. It's now May 20."

"I have no more information than you know," Herbst said. "It was supposed to be February, then March, April and then May."

Council President Dan Chiavaroli said that borough officials have made contact with the police association. He also told Trachta he wanted to meet with the chief and the borough secretary to go over the process in case the department ceases in regard to the chief's position.

"We want to hear your concerns," Chiavaroli told the chief. "About what might happen to your position and your job."

Chiavaroli also explained that the process of a Colonial Regional review has to go through three townships and their solicitors before it comes back to the council and its solicitor for review and any decision making.

He promised that there would be a public hearing before any decision about the police department is made.


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