Police Chief Blasts Removal of Emergency Management Coordinator

Nazareth's police chief calls the removal of longtime Emergency Management Coordinator a 'mistake.'

Nazareth Borough Council continues to hear complaints one month after voting to remove Mike Rinker as the borough’s Emergency Management Coordinator. “I think it’s a mistake,” said Police Chief Thomas Trachta during Council’s meeting Monday night. “[Emergency Management Coordinator] is not an entry-level position you can learn as you go along.”  Pending the governor’s approval, Rinker, who was in the position for 12 years, will be replaced by the borough’s public works assistant superintendent, James Collins. Collins is a former fire chief of Vigilance Hose Co. No. 1. Trachta said it will take Collins “a long time to achieve what Mike Rinker already has in place” and “it feels as though the borough is going backward.” Did Nazareth Borough …

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Nazareth Looks to Revamp Certification Process for Shared Police Officers

Nazareth Borough Council's Police Committee will contact neighboring police departments to discuss how to better handle annual training -- and associated costs -- for shared officers.

Nazareth Borough wants to establish a better training and certification process for police officers who work for neighboring departments. “[Part-time officers are] working for other departments and we’re picking up the full tab,” said Jack Herbst, chairman of Nazareth Borough Council’s Police Committee. “I don’t think we should be paying for part-timers’ training. Our taxpayer dollars are going to benefit other departments.” Nazareth Borough employs two full-time officers and seven part-time officers. The full-time officers are ensured 40 hours of training, because it’s a stipulation in their contract. Police Chief Thomas Trachta explained that no officer can hit the street until they comply with Act 120.  According to the Municipal Police…

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Wayne Schissler

10:30 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013

Why does it always seem that when it comes to the borough and its running of the police department "the problems" are the mandatory requirements to run the department? Just like the "problem" of paying for workman's compensation - the basic cost of doing business that all employers have to deal with. There must be discretionary areas that can be cut or not added to future budgets. Please explain …   more ›

Nazareth Police Chief Allowed to Reconnect TV's Cable

Nazareth Borough Council's Police Committee has a change of heart in regard to the television in the Nazareth Borough Police Department headquarters.

Nazareth's police chief on Monday was given permission to reconnect the cable to a television in the Nazareth Borough Police Department headquarters on S. Main Street. The announcement from Nazareth Borough Council's Police Committee was made 366 days -- or one year and one day -- after a Highway Department employee was instructed by Mayor Fred Daugherty Jr. to disconnect the RCN cable. The donated television in the police department's headquarters has been a sore subject in Nazareth Borough Council Chambers. The mayor has said he heard rumors of officers from Nazareth and other departments watching the television for entertainment. "After some thought and after what happened with Hurricane Sandy, and after a brief conversation with […

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Police Chief Demands Nazareth Councilman's Resignation

Nazareth's police chief says Larry Stoudt not only attempted to obstruct a state police investigation, but also glimpsed a confidential informant involved in a drug investigation.

Nazareth's police chief has demanded the vice president of Nazareth Borough Council resign from his post amidst allegations he obstructed a state police investigation, according to a report in The Express-Times. In a letter written Nov. 27, the report states, Police Chief Thomas Trachta said Councilman Larry Stoudt jeopardized a case when he entered police headquarters on May 24 uninvited. Stoudt saw a confidential informant involved in a drug investigation, which caused the informant to end his cooperation. The borough paid $3,000 to install security keypads to prevent unauthorized entry into the station, according to the report. Two days after Trachta issued his letter, a Patch reporter asked Stoudt about his future plans. "I plan to …

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Nazareth Borough Council Revisits Buying Police Coverage

Nazareth Borough Council will revisit the option of contracting police services from a neighboring municipality; the borough will reach out to Upper Nazareth, Bushkill and Palmer townships, in addition to Colonial Regional Police.

Nazareth Borough wants an outside source to provide police services, and will ask six municipalities -- three of which make up Colonial Regional Police -- to provide a proposal detailing the services available. Nazareth Borough Council on Monday unanimously approved a motion to send a “Request for Proposal” to Upper Nazareth, Bushkill and Palmer townships. Colonial Regional Police, and each municipality that makes up the department, will also be included. Nazareth Mayor Fred Daugherty Jr. in December 2011 withdrew his recommendation to buy coverage from Colonial Regional Police after negotiations failed to move forward. This time around, the borough has guidelines it would like each municipality to keep in mind: The deadline to reply is …

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'Inadequate' Police Coverage Raises Nazareth Residents' Fear Level

A Nazareth resident complains to Council that the response time for state police, who occasionally cover the borough, is slow and inadequate.

Almost two years after Nazareth’s mayor and Council began researching an alternate police service, patience is wearing thin. The status of borough police -- and whether it should contract with or join neighboring Colonial Regional Police -- is an ongoing issue. The proposed 2013 borough budget calls for hiring one additional full-time officer and purchasing a new police SUV. Korine Behler complained during Council’s workshop Thursday night about “chaos” involving an intoxicated person and a fight across the street from her home. She said no borough officers were on duty and that the response time for state police, who were covering the borough, was slow and inadequate. “It happens every day,” said Mayor Fred Daugherty Jr. He said he and …

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Judge Prohibits Nazareth Councilman from Entering Police Station

Larry Stoudt, the Nazareth councilman accused of attempting to obstruct a Pennsylvania State Police investigation, is prohibited from entering Nazareth Borough Police Department headquarters.

Judge Prohibits Nazareth Councilman from Entering Police Station

Larry Stoudt, the Nazareth councilman accused of attempting to obstruct a Pennsylvania State Police investigation, is prohibited from entering Nazareth Borough Police Department headquarters.

A Palmer Township district judge Wednesday ordered the vice president of Nazareth Borough Council -- facing charges of obstructing a state police probe -- to stay out of borough Police Department headquarters. Larry Stoudt, 74, waived his right to a preliminary hearing in front of District Judge Jackie Taschner. There was a change of venue request because District Judge John Capobianco's office, Nazareth Borough Hall and the police department are all housed in the same building. Stoudt was charged Oct. 9 with one misdemeanor count of criminal attempt-obstruction of law or government for allegedly trying to interfere with a Pennsylvania State Police undercover investigation. He faces a maximum of two years in prison and $5,000 in fines. …

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Nazareth Woman Robbed, Stabbed Outside Home

The assailant, who has not been arrested, is described as a white male and about 18-20 years old. He was wearing a dark-hooded jacket, and was last seen running west toward S. Green Street.

Nazareth Woman Robbed, Stabbed Outside Home

The assailant, who has not been arrested, is described as a white male and about 18-20 years old. He was wearing a dark-hooded jacket, and was last seen running west toward S. Green Street.

A Nazareth woman was robbed, punched and stabbed Friday night after stepping outside her home to smoke a cigarette, according to police. The assailant has not been arrested. The woman, who was not identified, was transported to St. Luke’s University Hospital in Fountain Hill. She was treated for a stab wound to the abdomen and released. Around 8:45 p.m. Friday, Nazareth officers responded to S. Main and W. Evergreen streets for a report of a stabbing. The victim was found on the ground, bleeding from the abdomen.  The victim said a man approached her and asked for beer, then grabbed her. After handing over an unspecified amount of money, the victim told police the man began to punch her. He then produced a knife, pushed her into an alley, …

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