Palmer Township: No to Nazareth Police Coverage

The sirens from Nazareth have fallen on deaf ears.

Palmer Township officials answered the call regarding a proposal for its police department to provide coverage to Nazareth with a swift, stiff "no" at the Board of Supervisors meeting Monday night.

Township Manager Christopher Christman said that he received and reviewed a proposal from Nazareth Monday for contracting police services.

"My recommendation is that we will not consider this," Christman said.

Nazareth Borough Council recently approved a motion to revisit contracting police services from a neighboring municipality. Nazareth wants an outside source to provide police services and asked six municipalities -- including Palmer -- if they were interested.

"It's cost prohibitive," Christman said. "And Nazareth is not contiguous to the township."

Upper Nazareth Township, Bushkill Township and Colonial Regional Police were also on the list. Colonial Regional covers Lower Nazareth Township, Bath Borough and Hanover Township (Northampton County). It has a contract to cover Chapman Borough.

"It would be difficult to provide quality service to Nazareth and maintain our service," Christman said. "Do you agree, chief?"

Police Chief Larry Palmer responded: "I concur."

Palmer Supervisors Chairman Dave Colver said Christman should send a letter on the township's behalf respectfully declining the request.

With less than a month to mull and draft a proposal, the Lower Nazareth Board of Supervisors on Wednesday said there is insufficient time to properly consider adding Nazareth Borough to Colonial Regional Police Department's coverage area.