Resident Barry Roth criticized these new hires at the December 2 meeting, arguing that more diversity is needed in the police force. President Weiss agreed, noting that the Township has had no female police officers officer in over ten years. But he told Roth he tries to support the decisions of department heads.
"The Board should hire as they deem fit," countered Hudak, noting that the female applicant was the "highest scoring candidate." But Marty Zawarski noted that she still needed to be certified, and Chief Pancoast wanted boots on the ground now. Zawarski said he would have preferred to hire her and wait the four or five months for her to be certified.
In other business, Commissioners unanimously endorsed a letter supporting the purchase of the Leckonby and Central Moravian tracts next to Housenick Park. Rough plans call for community gardening, a preserve and trails at that site. It was originally a part of the Camel's Hump farm, owned by Bethlehem's first mayor, Archibald Johnston.
They are going to need a serious deer fence for that garden.
ReplyDeleteGreat to see this park come together!
Typical Bethlehem Township. Can't seem to get anything right. The number one Police candidate and passed over.
ReplyDeleteIs the land deal OK with Atiyeh and his cronies?
ReplyDeleteAny blacks, spanish, chinese or any other ethnic minority police officers?
@ 6:47
ReplyDeleteYes
How about, instead of a more diverse force, we pick the best candidates?
ReplyDeleteThe plain fact is if she wasn't certified, and that certification was a condition of employment, then she wasn't the best candidate no matter how high her score was.
Everyone acknowledges she had the highest score, but was not Act 120 certified. That is 725 hours of training. The other officers had this. She did not. I would agree she is not qualified. Chief Pancoast wanted an officer who could start right away. His obligation to provide for public safety should trump diversity considerations.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the starting salary there? Seems there is a wide array of starting salaries for police across the valley. Do most municipalities still offer 20 years and out pensions?
ReplyDeleteAre either officer retired and collecting a pension from another municipality?
12:22,
ReplyDeleteThe starting pay for a police officer in Bethlehem Township is among the highest in the Lehigh Valley. And, yes, the 20 and out option is a statewide law.
Bernie, good comment at 11:28. Right on point!!
ReplyDelete1222.... you're incorrect. BT does not have an early retirement, and is 25 years and out. As for starting salary, its around 52k.... one of the lowest, except for a city like Bethlehem or Easton. They used to pay well, but all the second class townships took them over. Forks, lower saucon, colonial regional, Whitehall, s whitehall,, berks Lehigh, even hellertown ALL pay more.
ReplyDeleteACCORDING TO THEIR 2014 BUDGET A STARTING SALARY iS 65k plus benefits. Also more then half of their police force was hired without 120 certification. As the chief was once quoted, "its the norm".After over three years of no hires I don't think there was a big rush to put two sets of "boots on the ground" typical weiss rational. Its my understanding their was another, more interesting reason she was not hired. Bernie perhaps you should dig a little deeper into this. Ask Hudak or Zawarski since their the ones who supported her. I'm sure one of them will have no problem telling you the skinny.
ReplyDeleteNew hires get 12k under base salary, and then yearly increases
DeleteNow some complain about diversity on the force. Meaning woman. If the best candidate is a woman then she should get the job but she was not the most qualified as stated above. Why do we need woman to be diversified? I can see minorities as the people they serve and arrest come in all colors but I don't see the arguement applying to females. If that were so then we need a black woman, an Asian, a Hispanic and every other woman. It's crazy. Also aren't most of the criminals men???? Let's have the people in charge run their offices and lets not insist on this type of diversity. I'd rather see a minority and last I looked woman are not a minority just because they are woman. They outnumber men don't they???
ReplyDeleteNo controversy here.Most police candidates know they should have police academy certification to get hired
ReplyDelete6:32 I believe the reason you would want at least one woman on the force is domestic violence calls. Standard policy on all other departments is to dispatch a male AND female officer. A woman is more likly to open up to a female officer then a male. After all a male just assaulted her. Also on all body searches involving a female the township has to call in a female officer from outside. This cost additional money. Diversity has nothing to do with it, it just makes sense to have all the tools at your disposal. Understand?
ReplyDeleteI'd agree that a female police officer is an asset worth having for many reasons. But I'd defer to a Chief who says he needs someone now.
ReplyDeleteWhen does the annual tree toss take place? Should be soon. Who will represent the City, Finnerty or DiLuzio? Perhaps with all the changes in the city they haven't had time to train for the toss! At least you'll have a new opponent either way. Good luck Chief.
ReplyDeleteBernie you make perfect sense as usual although occasionally I do not go along with your reasoning. It's the cry for diversity that is a thorn.....that in itself makes little sense here.
ReplyDeleteWhitehall's fully funded police force has a qualified female Chief. Wonder if there are any female Police Chiefs in PA?
ReplyDeleteBethlehem Township's loss is another precinct's gain, she has been hired somewhere else (where they DO hire women)
ReplyDeleteShe was being considered by other precincts in the area, where she was also highly ranked at number one. I agree with 424, since Bethlehem Township did not take advantage of their number one person, someone else hired her instead!
ReplyDeleteGood for her. This is good to hear.
ReplyDelete