About Me

My photo
Nazareth, Pa., United States

Monday, July 07, 2014

An Indictment of Nazareth Police Chief Thomas Trachta

Below is a resolution I intend to present at tonight's meting of Nazareth Borough Council. The agenda is unavailable on the Borough webpage at the time I type this, but I believe they meet at 6 pm.

Governments rarely listen to citizens, unless they represent some special interest. Ordinarily, I'd say something like this will get short shrift. But what makes this different is that civil rights lawsuits are looming. A governing body that refuses to correct the errant actions of an out-of-control police department will find itself liable.

WHEREAS, Thomas Trachta is the Chief of Police of Nazareth Borough; and

WHEREAS, on June 27, 2014, he conducted a staged perp walk of litter suspects, even to the point of handcuffing and shackling them; and

WHEREAS, on June 26 or 27, 2014, he called litter suspect Trevor Gehret a "retard" and falsely represented to him that Lehigh Valley blogger Bernie O'Hare, a Nazareth resident, is a "drunk"; and

WHEREAS, on June 27, 2014, he arrested three people for posting tiny stickers critical of him, while ignoring much larger signs posted all over the borough; and

WHEREAS, he has refused to take any disciplinary action against a part-time police officer engaged in an an on-duty affair, despite complaints from numerous Nazareth residents, including Gehret; and

WHEREAS, he refused to take any disciplinary action against another part-time police officer (ERIC SCHWAB) who, after responding to a domestic disturbance on June 9, 2014, returned and drank with one of the victims; and

WHEREAS, he has created a culture of intolerance for any criticism of the police department that resulted in Officer Eric Schwab posting a Facebook comment asking fellow police officers to "light this fucker up" in response to factual criticisms made by O'Hare on his blog; and

WHEREAS, he blackballed a Nazareth resident who served his country honorably in Iraq is currently employed as a Bangor police officer, from the Nazareth Police Department; and

WHEREAS, he falsely represented that this officer, a Nazareth resident, had been involuntarily committed, and attempted to get him fired in Bangor with the same misstatement; and

WHEREAS, he has avoided hiring military veterans, instead hiring officers who were either fired by or left other departments knowing they were about to be fired; and

WHEREAS, he requested this Board to authorize AR-15 training by part-time Officer Eric Schwab, showing preference in training for part-time police officers, who can leave for full-time employment elsewhere;

WHEREAS, in a June 30, 2014 Arbitration ruling, he admits he refused to administer a sergeant's exam because of fear that an officer he disliked would pass it; and

WHEREAS, he has usurped the authority of Borough Council with criminal prosecutions and the threats of criminal prosecution, including the ominous warning that he keeps files on all members of Council; and

WHEREAS, he has forced the ouster of long-time members of the Police Committee, and

WHEREAS, he has used Borough resources (the state police crime lab control number) to request investigation, not of crime in Nazareth, but criminal mischief directed at him in Bushkill Township; and

WHEREAS, he abused borough resources by using the borough control number to request a state police criminal background check for a part-time Nazareth police officer who was applying for full-time jobs in other municipalities, falsely indicating it was for an investigation; and

WHEREAS, Borough Council has independently obtained other reports of misconduct by Chief Thomas Trachta;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Nazareth Borough Council take the following steps:

1) That the Borough Council Solicitor be directed to prepare and forward a list of charges against Chief Trachta, and thereafter immediately provide a Loudermill letter to Chief Trachta;

2) That thereafter, this Council conduct a hearing to determine whether

a) Trachta is in material breach of his contract with Nazareth;

b) Trachta is is violation of the Borough Code, 53 P.S. Section 46190 for neglect and violation of duty; intemperance, immorality, conduct unbecoming an officer.

I am also circulating a petition online, seeking Trachta's ouster. There's a link on my left sidebar. It went active yesterday and had 28 signatures in about 12 hours. Most are from Nazareth.

Updated 1:30 pm: As of this moment, there are 74 signiatures, most of which are from Nazareth! I understand the Jacks' Club has responded with a "Keep Trachta" petition.

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hopefully your "resolution" gets all the attention it so richly deserves.

Notice how when you don't allow anonymous comments, you get as many remarks as West Easton and MM's blogs. The only ones who posted were your kiss azz poison posse members.

Too funny!

Anonymous said...

The 28 signatures at least gives the cops an idea of where all the stolen checks and drug activity is happening.

Rambler said...

The troll found her balls again.

Anonymous said...

FT - FIRE TRACHTA
FT - FIRE TRACHTA
FT - FIRE TRACHTA
FT - FIRE TRACHTA
FT - FIRE TRACHTA
FT - FIRE TRACHTA
FT - FIRE TRACHTA
FT - FIRE TRACHTA
FT - FIRE TRACHTA
FT - FIRE TRACHTA

Bernie O'Hare said...

"The 28 signatures at least gives the cops an idea of where all the stolen checks and drug activity is happening."

Actually, it is now 38 signatures, mostly from good people here in Nazareth who, unlike you, are willing to ID themselves. Many are upset that Trachta pursues critics while letting thugs go.

Anonymous said...

What's a Loudermill letter?

Bernie O'Hare said...

As a public sector employee, Trachta is entitled to due process - notice and an opportunity to be heard - before adverse action is taken against him. A Loudermill letter, names after the case in which it occurred, is the requirement that there be notice.

Anonymous said...

These rules like Loudermill letter and notification by certified mail of important hearings are so confusing. I prefer to sit on my deck with friends, sipping drinks with fancy umbrellas and brightly colored fruit, dreaming I am better at law than a bottom feeding blogger. Life is too short to get hung up on procedural mumbo jumbo. Snap, crackle, dump. Oops - I pooped my thong!

Anonymous said...

45 sigs. You shouldn't have a problem reaching 50 by council meeting time.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I am surprised. I thought many would be afraid to sign their names. Not only are they signing, but most are from Nazareth!

Anonymous said...

There is more than just a few who aren't sheeple living in Nazareth. Good for them!

Anonymous said...

Who's side do you think the Mayor is on with this issue? Or is he flip flopping?

Bernie O'Hare said...

"There is more than just a few who aren't sheeple living in Nazareth. Good for them!"

83 so far!

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Boonie will be in solitary soon"

Well, that's preferable to being lit up.

Anonymous said...

The Jacksonian Club, so that's where the cops drink in their off time, interesting.

Or am I off base and it's a jerking off club in Nazareth?

Anonymous said...

How many are home owning taxpayers and "really" Nazareth homeowners. Good to see your blog get active again. Now more than the azz kizzers are posting and you have some activity.

There are always that element of people in any area that hate the police. Thank God we never let them run the streets.

Anonymous said...

But Bernie O'Hare is a drunk... So if he did say that he was only speaking the truth. Not to mention, Trevor Gehret is not the sharpest tool in the shed.

Anonymous said...

Careful 4:02 troll. To argue only homeowners of a borough have a say, means that your space cadet Mezzanutjob shouldn't have one in West Easton.

Anonymous said...

I understand the Jacks' Club has responded with a "Keep Trachta" petition.
You referring to the Jacksonian Club? The same club that Trachta set up the Councilman with? That's a joke, right?

Bernie O'Hare said...

No.

Anonymous said...

Then 3:26 was right. It is a club for jerking off.

Anonymous said...

The Jax is the 2nd easiest place in town to make a drug transaction. The American is #1. This is widely known in Nazareth.

Anonymous said...

Where do I sign

Anonymous said...

Don't know what to do. My brother signed the petition but he is a homeless druggie that forges checks. I am a taxpaying homeowner who enjoys the peaceful safety of the town, so I will sign to keep the chief.

Chad

Anonymous said...

These Trachta like bully cops are everywhere and need to be tamed, fired and not be in a position to protect and or serve:

http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/mc-pa-sheriff-threatens-to-shoot-reporter-20140707,0,6924817.story

Anonymous said...

The cop they were forced to hire back tonight will fit right in. FJ was fired by the Colonial Regional and Bethlehem Township. He has settlement agreements with most former employers. Go figure!

Anonymous said...

FT
Fire Trachta

Anonymous said...

Just a heads up half the people signing your petition are under the age of 21 and most are ages 14 to 18 and not adults yet.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Well, I don't know if what you are saying is true, and have not taken the time to google the people who signed this like you did. But I'll say this. Most of them have identified themselves, and that makes them more adult than you. Just a head's up.

Anonymous said...

I didn't have to Google them I know most of them and also a lot of them didn't put last names also more grown up? Wait a second its not lime you are a grown up you spend your day attacking the place you love why don't you fucking move and get a real job oh wait you had a real job then you got it takenaway. YpuYou no offense you look like you stalk this cop way too much it looks really pathetic also its my constitutional rights to not post my name.