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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Former Corrections Officer to Head Jail

County Executive Lamont McClure has nominated James C. Kostura for the position of Director of Corrections. Mr. Kostura has served as the Deputy Warden of Community Corrections since 2013. He began his career with the County as a Corrections Officer at the Northampton Jail in 1993, working his way up to Shift Lieutenant then Security Operations Administrator.

I can think of at least three former Corrections Directors who started out as guards. I know very little about Kosura, which is probably a good thing. I  saw no evidence that he has financial difficulties.   

According to a news release that accompanied the appointment, Kostura served in the U.S. Navy/Naval Reserves for twenty-years as an Active Duty SEAL officer providing training in anti-terrorism techniques and defensive tactics. I checked and the Navy does allow reservists to become SEALs so long as they go through active duty training.

I am unaware what rank Kostura attained in the Navy, or what his educational is.

Kostura’s nomination has been sent to the Northampton County Council. They will likely receive a vote on his appointment in April.

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

About time they fill within!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Fat Bastard wishes you well, Jimmie. Not you BO...inside joke...117.

Bernie O'Hare said...

7:45, I have only seen one time, when Brown appointed Keen, when this position was NOT filled from within.

Anonymous said...

Great Choice, Navy Seal, whats not to like here?

Anonymous said...

Agreed! Jim Kostora is a perfect choice and a great American!

Anonymous said...

There was old favorite, County Detective Smith and Attorney O’Connell.

Anonymous said...

Did he complete BUDS training and get the crossed tridents? If not, he is not a Navy SEAL.

Anonymous said...

congratulations !! if you would have been director when I was there I would not have retired-MG

Peter j.Cochran said...

Bernie you know I’m pro military and a retiree of the U..S.Army ,serving first in th Marine Corps .and also in the U.S.Navy. . This man is bigger than the job he has occupied. He should bring a new demeanor to his constituents,and will lean forward to make them more efficient . It’s in his DNA. SEALs were born from UDT and the first instructors were Marines that were Forse Recon dudes that did not have a life . It was hard . Whatever this man went though would have been a bigger nightmare than the West Easton Witch . If he had done this training one can not hide it , the SEAL group is too small - so if there were an an “ overblown resume “ that would come out . Unlike so of our politicians. Take time to the bank.

Peter j.Cochran said...

Director- MG — in the U.S.Navy ? No MGs in U.S.Navy-they would be Rear Admeral ,Lower or Upper case - so I wonder about who you are. Sign your name dude.

Anonymous said...

You misread. MG are the initials of a recently retired corrections officer. He was stating if Kostura was director when he retired he may have reconsidered.

Anonymous said...

Those are his initials...I worked with him...good dude.

Peter j. Cochran said...

Read Admeral s are decided , the U.. S. Navy currently does not use the Commador term. So there are no One Stares in the U.S.Navy . So SEALs are special operations and are set up in teams that are designed for operations in a specific area of expertise. Our U.S. Army has special operations too . Each team member would have specific expert knowledge of some operational detail. Chemical Defense ,water supply operations , medical or physiological operations. In this case they may not be great warfights or not Infantry . The Marine Corps has MARSOC now known as “ Raider” sorry we don’t talk about them and you don’t here about them on purpose. They are bonifide badasses ——I would not qualify by they way - and you will not know them until after your your already dead.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Kostura military experience brings very little to the table. Mr. Kostura is a yes man. No disrespect to his military experience someone to needs to look at his personnel jacket one more time

Anonymous said...

Marakovitz wasn’t within.

Peter j.Cochran said...

Well M G to me is Major General 2 Star - Major General rank is the only time a Lieutenant outranks a Major. Go figure . Ok

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Marakovitz wasn’t within."

True, dat. Aside frfom Keen and her, I'm unable to think of anyone who served there as warden or corrections director who was not an insider going back to Fats DiGiacinto.

Peter j.Cochran said...

“Very little to the table” Anon 8:08 you apparently have no idea what military’s rule of order has in institutions like jails and corrections. I disagree with your statement. This man should have a decree of benevolence that is well above a political appointee. Political appointees are the “train wreck “ of the the tax payer . Look at our Toll Bridge Commission . Look at what they do do for a living. They are the text book example of “ how not to “ —————- fill in blank .i worked a Marine Corps Brig - nobody ever wants to go back there. Give this new Director of Corrections a shot and I’ll bet you things will get better for the productive and he will shitcan his turd deadweights if he has any. Working conditions will get better and safety will increase . I have never met him and I say this in his defense.

Anonymous said...

I think the idea that being in the military automatically makes you qualified to do any job is really getting old fast. Next time you have a heart attack tell the doctors to let a non doctor military man fix you. Lets try and keep it real.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Your analogy is complete horseshit and does not keep it real. Corrections and law enforcement are based on a military structure, so prior military rxperience is an asset. Plus veterans who put their lives on the line should always have priority over anonymous cowards afraid to ID themselves.

Anonymous said...

The jail is still a mess. Buskirk presided over that mess. Now another hire from within. Keen was not the right person but at least he had fresh eyes on the jail and all it's internal issues. You need an independent person with no ties to the current crop of employee's. The good old boy system does not work and it returns the jail to the CYA practices of the past. I would ask council to not be so quick to appoint this man. Take some time and find an independent administrator with no connection to the county jail.

Anonymous said...

Bernie, any movement about a new sheriff yet?

You can't handle the truth said...

Cindy Marakovits and James Smith(RIP)

You can't handle the truth said...

Good thing, they never would of got rid of you JR

joe detzi said...

What a great pick! NORCO you got a GREAT person in Jim.

Anonymous said...

Terrance O'connel