Local Government TV

Monday, October 06, 2014

There's a New Sheriff in Nazareth

Former Bethlehem Police Commissioner and Northampton County Sheriff Randy Miller was unanimously appointed a Deputy Chief of the Nazareth Police Department by unanimous vote of Borough Council during tonight's meeting. Though I was covering another meeting in Bethlehem Township, several attendees alerted me by text. The Express Times has a first-hand account.

I got to know Sheriff Miller during his tenure in Northampton County, and have deep respect for him. He is a by-the-book police officer. A department under his supervision would not have the nonsense that has occurred under Chief Thomas Trachta.

My only regret is that he has not been named Chief.

Under Sheriff Miller, Northampton County's Sheriff's Department became only the second such department to be certified in the state. He is also the law professional who revoked Tricia Mezzacappa's license to carry firearms, while simultaneously investigating deputies involved in the leak of her application.

He is fair.

Thanks to the team he put in place, Northampton County Deputies have saved the lives of several people who have been stricken by heart attacks and other sudden medical emergencies.

One of the people saved is Attorney Richard Schaedler, one of only four friends I have left since I started blogging, and that's only because he does not read me..



He fought hard to get more people hired in his department. Ironically, not long after winning that battle, Executive John Brown let him go.

Miller had been a supporter of John Callahan, Brown's opponent in the Executive race.

He's got a tough job ahead of him. It includes one Borough Council member who thinks he's a detective and does stake-outs at Belvidere Apartments; a Mayor who has allowed the department to spiral out-of-control while pretending he's on top of thngs; part-time officers like Dan Troxell, who are pathetic in court and can barely put two sentences together; and worst of all, a thin-skinned police chief who conducts staged perp walks of innocent defendants.

He has one thing from me that people like Trachta and his sidekick Troxell don't - respect.

Good luck, Sheriff.

31 comments:

  1. Trachta is zyour wurst nightmayor ohate

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  2. Good for Randy and the citizens of Nazareth if this is true. Hopefully he will soon replace that loon Trachta as chief. In the limited time and capacity working with Randy seemed extremely knowledgable, dedicated, and passionate for his field. NorCo's loss is Nazareth's gain.

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  3. "Trachta is zyour wurst nightmayor ohate"

    Then I have nothing to worry about.

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  4. "Good for Randy and the citizens of Nazareth if this is true."

    Agreed.

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  5. Trachta is so stupid. ....He can't even see what this is! It's the END of his terror! Troxell must be busy packing their bags. Such it up CUPCAKE!

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  6. Good news Bernie and for Nazareth.

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  7. No offense to Nazareth but seems like a step down from Sheriff to Nazareth Boro.

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  8. But a bigger challenge, to be sure.

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  9. Not a step down. A person like him wants to help others. HE HAS THAT OPPORTUNITY in nazareth. Big time.

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  10. He will be making $66,560.00 as a part-time administrative deputy police chief per year. We currently have four full-time police officers who make under $60,000.00 each a year. In 2009 we had six full-time police officers who made under $56,000.00 each a year. A full-time police chief who was making $87,000.00 a year, Deputy Chief making $47,000.00 dollars a year and several 32 hour positions. In 2002 a case study of population vs. Police officer, by the same state department who we are requesting now. They recommend ten full-time police officers then. The point is, can we afford the police department after the up and coming law suits and the direction we are going because of our current administration and council?

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    1. Nazareth Borough must be made of money! If they can afford to pay a part-time employee $40.00 dollars an hour. I think their going to have a hard time explaining that one at the next contract negotiation with their police force.

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  11. the worst thing that's happening in this town is the bed bug infestation in said apartments.

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  12. Well, I hope the Borough Council member staking out the place is making daily reports to Trachta. Maybe they can wire one of the bed bugs.

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  13. Wait isn't he suing his last employee the county of Northampton? Well I guess he will fall right in place with Nazareth Borough. Now to get rid of the Mayor, President of council, and those who are a waste of space. The sand in the hour glass is running out!

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  14. I doubt the rest of the officials in Nazareth are very concerned they don't have the respect of an alcoholic, disbarred attorney who took money from a poor African-
    American. They probably also are not concerned about no respect form check forgers, illegal borders and druggies.

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  15. The sticker goons look like they would live in those apartments, as stowaways.

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  16. 10:45, It's nice to know someone is there who won't put up with your bullshit, Mezzacappa. You hate this guy bc he followed the law and revoked your LTCF.

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  17. Good to see MezzaNoJobNoProspectsNoRTCFHarrasser is awake this evening and full of her usual phrases like "ohate", "disbarred" "alcoholic" yada yada yada.

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  18. The department seems top-heavy. How can they justify another expensive administrator rather than more boots on the ground? Miller got lucky with this appointment.

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  19. Northampton County's loss is Nazareth's gain.

    I wish nothing but good things for Randy as I also found him to be a highly skilled and likable professional, a rare combination today.

    Brown's firing him for political retribution is a poor reflection on his ability to keep qualified personnel on board, politics notwithstanding.

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  20. Wow, Good move on the Mayors part. O'hare you mention a Mayor that has left the police department spin out of control? Put the liquor bottle down! This department was spinning way out of control when Herbst and Dougherty controlled it. They didn't do anything. Herbst was too stupid. This Mayor is making moves in the right direction.

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  21. Let's see. Under our new mayor, three people were perp walked and exonerated in court in a proceeding the mayor did not attend, and have filed civil rights claims. A police officer who can barely put two sentences together is still patrolling the streets. He actually defended the refusal to give a description of a potential kidnapping victim. He publicly stated that he does not care what a judge thinks. Another civil rights suit will be filed over the termination of a crossing guard. I think it's safe to say he's been a disaster. Maybe you should put the bottle down.

    The selection of Randy Miller is outstanding, which means that the mayor and Borough Council probably had little to do with it.

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  22. Again, you are way off base, as usual. This Mayor has done more for the department than the last Mayor and last one after that. Herbst tried to screw everyone and almost got away with it. The crossing guard firing wasn't him, but was the right the move. A disaster would have been if Herbst was Mayor. You know it and so does everyone else in this town. You need to give him a chance instead of drinking and reporting. It reads like (express/times) this was Strye's idea. A positive move that you can't handle.

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  23. I can't respect a Mayor who says he doesn't care what a judge thinks. Under his tenure, at least eight civil rights claims will be filed. Taxes are going to go right through the roof. He will take credit for any idea until it fails. I agree Herbst would have been a disaster for Trachta and Troxell. for the rest of Nazareth, he would have been a good Mayor. The town will wake up once it gets its tax bill.

    As for the booze claims, you need to come up with something new. People know I don't drink anymore. You should accuse me of something more exotic, like crack cocaine or glue sniffing.

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  24. Succession planning at its best. Miller is a class act and with roots here in the area. Wishing him well and hoping that he helps bring some stability to the Department.

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  25. Lol can I accuse you of making FM Stickers? Lmao..... I think I'll go plaster west easton with Find Mezzacrazy Stickers. Haha, maybe I'll drop off a signed check and some needles for her too, she can then figure out instantly who committed the crime.

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  26. Isn't the sheriff large and in charge in the Callahan administration?

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  27. "maybe I'll drop off a signed check"

    Will it be your check or someone else's?

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  28. @ 1:08 it'll be one from my printer at home, equipped with a personalized message too ;) maybe a few cupcakes and I'll even have O'Hare deliver it.

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  29. This new guy is big on political endorsements. Who does he like in the next mayors race? I hear he can really pick winners.

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