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Monday, September 16, 2013

Police Chiefs Pan District Judge Gerrymander

Bethlehem Tp Police Chief Pancoast during Nat'l Night Out
Bethlehem Township Police Chief Daniel G. Pancoast (his officers will be required to drive to Northampton or Nazareth):

"The Bethlehem Township Police Department is strongly opposed to any alteration of magisterial districts which results in the reduction of officer presence in our township and an increased expenditure of taxpayer dollars if the only benefit to be derived is that one magisterial office remains open."

Colonial Regional Police Department Chief Roy D. Seiple (his police department is housed in the same building as District Judge Narlesky):

"I contacted Judge Hawke who would not provide me with the particulars of the plan and was less than amicable in his response. I advised him regarding my department's position on this matter and he advised me that the decision was that of the Magistrates' Association and we had no say. ... Certainly a change of this magnitude should be subject to input from the Municipalities, Citizens and Police Departments that it affects."

Upper Nazareth Police Chief Alan Siegfried (Part of Upper Nazareth will go to District Judge Hawke):

"[T]his type of change will greatly affect the citizens in our western district that may need to file landlord/tenant actions or T&A complaints. It will be difficult to explain why a citizen needs to travel 15 miles to file such actions. I believe this will deter citizens from pursuing legal actions based on the geographical location of the issuing authority."
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2 comments:

  1. AnonymousSeptember 16, 2013 at 6:51 AM

    BT Chief is correct. His time is most valued in the township where he can help protect citizens. He will lose valuable time and possibly endure lots of traffic snarls traveling to and from Nazareth. What a waste of his time.
    Thanks Bernie for this info. Did not know.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Bernie O'HareSeptember 16, 2013 at 10:12 AM

    "e will lose valuable time and possibly endure lots of traffic snarls traveling to and from Nazareth. What a waste of his time"

    I don't think the trip to Nazareth would bother Chief Pancoast. That's pretty close. It's the trip to Northampton. It's a haul and there is no easy way to get there.

    ReplyDelete

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