Police Officer Hiring Delayed Until Next Yardley Council Meeting

YARDLEY, PA —The borough's police chief plans to hire a new police officer, just not yet.

Police Chief Joseph Kelly III asked Borough Council at Tuesday night's meeting to pull the hiring from the agenda and move the item for consideration at the council's Oct. 18 meeting.

The police department added a part-time officer in Robert Gergal Jr. early last month.

Kelly was in the news recently over the court case regarding his shooting last year.

Meanwhile, the chief —in his report to the council —announced that a coat drive is in the initial stages and will be headed up by auxiliary officers with collections expected in November and December.

He also announced crime statistics for September. Crime was relatively "static" for August, the chief had previously reported.

For September, the chief said the department handled 520 service calls, issued no parking tickets, 65 traffic citations and no non-traffic citations, made three arrests and dealt with seven traffic accidents. There were no DUI arrests.

At the Borough Council's Sept. 6 meeting, Kelly reported for August that the department handled 566 service calls, issued three parking tickets, 72 traffic citations, three non-traffic citations, made nine arrests and dealt with seven traffic accidents. There were no DUI arrests. The department also handled 336 premises and business checks.