Yesterday, I was at the first of what should be four budget hearings to review Executive John Brown's spending plan for next year. As a result, I missed the latest attempt to destroy Colonial Regional Police Department at a Lower Nazareth Supervisors' meeting at the elementary school on Newburg Road. Departing Supervisor Eric Nagle wants to replace one of this area's top law enforcement agencies with the Keystone Cops.
Though I missed out on all the fun, Agent 77 was there. He is more succinct than I.
I was at this meeting, and it was standing room only. Mr. Nagle from the very start was belligerent and disrespectful to many speakers as they all praised the CRPD. Every. Single. Person. who spoke was in favor of retaining the CRPD. Mr. Nagle clearly has no interest in listening to his constituents and is pursuing something personal. What that is however I do not know.
15 comments:
i thought nazareth had the sticker gate keystone kopps
Mr. Nagle is rude and arrogant. He does not listen to his constituents. He tries to bully and talk over speakers.
Once again the CRPD brought out the cheer-leading brigade. However, Mr. Nagle got what he wanted. Future negotiations on a new funding formula that is more in-line with reality. A new funding formula based only on per capita will keep Lower Nazareth in the CRPC and the CRPD will survive. If this comes to fruition, Hanover Township will see its contribution rate jump to 65.9%, while Lower Nazareth contribution rate will drop to 34.1%. Presently, HT pays about 51.2%, while LNT pays 37.1%. This equates to approximately a $536,400 increase to HT. This increase will almost guarantee a lay-off of approximately 3-officers in the CRPD and reduce HT's contribution to a solid 1/2 million. This is because the Bath contribution will be eliminated and the 65.9%/34.1% new funding formula will rule. Since LNT's supervisors refuse to let Bath buy-out early, Bath will receive it's 1/3 portion of the assets. I'm sure since the HT contribution is significantly higher, I'm sure their stance at the negotiation table with the CRPD Association will not be a rubber stamp anymore. So who wins!
@8:17,
Who wins? Nobody. With HT footing 2/3 of the bill, they could consider creating their own department, and possibly save money.
The replications or clonez in the PowerPoint express are growing to unsurmountable perporsion and over taking the government cheese of the entire area.
Damm Bernie I hate the grammar police in our pocket, it wrecks are diffinative print.
The time has come for a "County Wide Police Force". That will fit right in with Bernie's Home Rule Charter Study.
@8:17, you write like a bitter borough manager with all your equations. Unfortunately a per capita formula will never work for LNT because so much police resources are used on the 248 corridor. And I'm willing to bet not a single one of those incidents involve a township resident. It's as if Nagle refuses to acknowledge that area even exists in the twp. As for Mr. Nagle getting what he wanted, he gets to go away in a few short months. Maybe with fresh faces at the table and no personal axes to grind, a new approach can be worked out to everyones satisfaction.
@11:11, The police resources you use on the 248 corridor comes from all the big box stores in the area. Shoplifting is 51.3% of arrests in LNT. It is the No.1 arrest category, 31.2%, of the CRPD. If it wasn't the policy of the CRPC and the CRPD to make these time consuming arrests and make the stores privately prosecute these individuals, the CRPD's stats would be normal. I agree a per capita formula alone will not suffice, however, if the CRPC/CRPD want to survive, this needs to happen in LNT. Or otherwise, the same thing will happen in 2018!
@8:34,
If you look into the past LVL articles, you will see that Chief Seiple did attempt this. However he was met with resistance from the retailers who said that as long as they pay taxes, its the job for the police to respond. I agree with that thinking. If a township is going to encourage retail growth, they better be prepared to provide adequate police coverage for the crime associated with it. Walmart down to a mom and pop shop, if a crime occurs the police should respond.
Its not a CRPD or CRPC policy, its the law actually. Pa Crimes Code Title 18, section 3929(a)(1).
Its not a CRPD or CRPC policy, its the law actually. Pa Crimes Code Title 18, section 3929(a)(1).
It's not a policy, its the law to enforce. Look it up. Crimes code Title 18, section 3929 (a)(1).
First, unless it is not a summary offense of retail theft, there is no mandate for police to arrest. Private prosecution works in Allentown, Bethlehem and surrounding areas, [except Whitehall Township]. Second, I know the Chief has tried to eliminate these responses, but the big tax paying stores cry foul. Believe me these big box stores won't leave if there is a change in policy; too much money to lose! Third, how much time does this cost the CRPD? Is the CRPD the personal police department of these stores or is the mission of the CRPD to serve the citizens of the regional first?
Maybe thats how it worked in TN, but you must not understand the consequences of not responding to petty calls. Soon enough Bath will be a great example of how the town goes downhill because the PSP won't respond to petty calls.
I still cannot find Colonial Regional on a map or any reference to it's governing authority. Is this place imaginary? Is it a conglomeration of incorporated jurisdictions that don't have a police force? What is this thing people are referring to as "colonial regional"?
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