Police Deal: 'It Seems Like This is Really Dragging On'

The future of police coverage for Nazareth is being tied up by Colonial Regional Police.

Councilman Jack Herbst, in leading Monday night's Police Committee meeting, told the audience of about 15 residents that there was "no further news or status updates on the future of the police force."

In its first meeting since the resignation of Mayor Fred Daugherty Jr., the three-member Police Committee—an arm of Nazareth Borough Council—met for 10 minutes with only cryptic reference to Colonial Regional, which wasn't even mentioned by name in Herbst's chat with Councilman Charles Donello.

"Did we give them a time limit at all?" Donello asked Herbst. "It seems like this is really dragging along. I wish they'd make up their minds and give us some kind of proposal. I know we talked about this a long time ago."

Daugherty had long been an advocate for disbanding the Nazareth Borough Police Department. In June 2011, he announced his recommendation to buy coverage from Colonial Regional Police.

Nazareth Borough Council approved a motion Dec. 3 to revisit contracting police services from a neighboring municipality. Nazareth wants an outside source to provide police services and asked six municipalities—three of which make up Colonial Regional Police—if they were interested.

Herbst explained that Colonial Regional said they couldn't make a Jan. 31 deadline for a proposal. He also told Donello that the difficulty and delay is dealing with a police commission and three municipalities that have to agree.

Members of the public were silent when Herbst called the 10-minute meeting to a close.

They then asked if they could get some answers, which Herbst allowed. The session went on for 20 minutes.

Residents wondered why things weren't moving along and Herbst clarified the statements he made to Donello, who was sitting next to Police Chief Thomas Trachta.

Herbst promised residents that once council receives a proposal, itl will seek public input before a decision is made regarding the police department's fate.

Donello echoed that statement, saying there would be a "breakdown" of proposals for residents to digest and discuss.

"We're waiting on a proposal from Colonial Regional," Herbst stated.

According to an event page created by "Nazareth PA" on Facebook, some borough residents have started a grassroots campaign and petition to help "save" the Nazareth Borough Police Department.