Northampton County DA Terry Houck yesterday announced the formation of a major crimes task force comprised of 42 law enforcement officers from Bethlehem City, Bethlehem Tp, Colonial Regional Police Department, Easton, Forks Tp, Pennsylvania State Police and Northampton County detectives. Its purpose is to use the "best and brightest" officers in the county to combat catastrophic crime, complex crime or a major crime committed in a smaller jurisdiction that simply lacks the resources to investigate on its own.
At a news conference attended by many of the officers in this task force, Houck explained that a major crimes task force is unlike the existing cooperation that exists between police departments as a result of mutual aid agreements. Houck noted that mutual aid agreements allow for a concentrated police presence for many major emergencies like standoffs. But once the immediate crisis is over, officers from other departments are gone and investigation falls into the hands of one police department.
Bethlehem Tp Police Chief Greg Gottschall provided an example. Last year, his department charged Joshua Leone with homicide following an argument with a neighbor. That case awaits trial. Leone is claiming self defense although he allegedly shot the victim in the back. Noting his department sees few homicides, Chief Gottschall said "it would have been nice if [a major crimes task force] had been in lace at that point."
Another example came from Colonial Police Chief James DePalma. That was the 2021 shootout at a Target in Lower Nazareth Tp, which resulted in one man's death. Following a months-long investigation, charges were filed against two Harrisburg men. Chief DePalma noted that mutual aid agreements enabled numerous departments to respond to the initial incident, but where he really needed help was in the lengthy investigation that followed.
Houck noted that incident is what made him realize a major crimes task force is needed.
It would be up to Houck to decide when and if to activate the major crimes task force. It could be in response to a catastrophic crime like a mass shooting at a school or church. It could also be a response to drugs and gang violence that sometimes extends beyond municipal boundaries. It could be a major crime committed in a jurisdiction with a small police department and few resources.
Houck thanked Northampton County Council for "believing in our vision." He noted that County Council unanimously approved a small increase in his budget to fund specialized equipment and training. It was also pay for any overtime by officers working on the task force.
Houck denies a political motivation for this major crimes task force, but does take credit for it on his campaign webpage. I have asked Steve Baratta, Houck's opponent, for his take on a major crimes task force. I will share his response when received.
25 comments:
Who cares what Judge Baratta thinks about the Regional task force. If Judge Baratta wanted one he would have mentioned it in his press release. Every police department in the County feels this is a good idea so Baratta's opinion doesn't matter.
He's a candidate for DA, and if elected, he could decide it's unnecessary. So yes, I do care what he thinks. Also, fairness dictates that I reach out to him on this point.
Fairness? That’s what you’re calling it? Last time, when he tried to trash R. Peppers reputation, you called it politics. I agree, who gives a shit what Baratta thinks. He’s just reviewing with Morganelli what he should say anyway.
On the other end of the spectrum, with Lehigh County DA Jim Martin announcing his retirement, maybe put up an article so people can use the comments section to share remembrances of his extraordinary service and all the bad guys he's put away...
Bernie, Terry Houck went before county council some months ago, before election season, to discuss this. So I don’t think it is politically motivated.
So the suburban townships again need a way to tap the resources of our cities and the state because they lack the scale, expertise, or will to raise taxes to provide basic functions to their communities such as competent police investigators.
Perhaps it is time they consider raising taxes, forming regional departments, or merging with the core municipalities they are asking assistance from to gain access to these services or the resources to provide them?
Bernie, at the risk of sounding as if I am fawning over you, I got to say thanks for covering the DAs race in Northampton County. If it wasn’t for you there would be no coverage whatsoever. Can’t either two local rags find one hack reporter to cover the race?
Bernie, You fair - the joke of the month
So yeah, the best way to combat catastrophic crime is to dismantle and abolish the entire policing system, and destroy the entire ravenous culture of systemic racism in law enforcement.
What the recent murder of Tyre Nichols has shown is that the entire culture of policing is broken beyond repair, and the bottom line is that black people are disproportionately killed by police officers, no matter what race those officers are.
This seems like a sound idea.
Does Norco support the RIIC yet? Crime knows no borders.
Yes, NorCo does support the RIIC, and that is largely due to the effort that Houck made with NorCo Council.
" Can’t either two local rags find one hack reporter to cover the race?"
I think both papers did cover Baratta's complaint and Terry's response. I spoke to a reporter who would love to do more but simply has no time. The papers are stretched thin and have to be careful with elections.
"What the recent murder of Tyre Nichols has shown is that the entire culture of policing is broken beyond repair,"
It's not entirely broken bc the officers who are allegedly involved have been charged criminally. If it was broken beyond repair there would be no accountability. But this article is about a major crimes task force, not police violence.
"Bernie, Terry Houck went before county council some months ago, before election season, to discuss this. So I don’t think it is politically motivated."
I agree with you, and do not consider Terry a politician. But it is on his campaign webpage. If he makes an announcement, I should ask his opponent about it, too.
"Fairness? That’s what you’re calling it? Last time, when he tried to trash R. Peppers reputation, you called it politics. I agree, who gives a shit what Baratta thinks. He’s just reviewing with Morganelli what he should say anyway."
There are two candidates. Just as I reviewed Baratta's claims with Houck, I am asking Baratta to respond to Houck's idea. Not complicated.
"So the suburban townships again need a way to tap the resources of our cities and the state because they lack the scale, expertise, or will to raise taxes to provide basic functions to their communities such as competent police investigators.
Perhaps it is time they consider raising taxes, forming regional departments, or merging with the core municipalities they are asking assistance from to gain access to these services or the resources to provide them?"
this....is brilliant.
kudos.
This is not so much for suburban townships like Williams, which have no police department, but for small communities like Portland or West Easton, that do.
Time to pass the police impact fee on those entitlement townships that rely on State Police for municipal police protect. Maybe we would not have to raise the gas tax. Why does a borough of 3,500 residents have municipal police yet a Township of 30,000 residents does not? There is absolutely no reason why PSP should be investigating retail thefts. What are the Pros and Cons of County wide police department.
I don’t care if Houck went to Council weeks or month ago about this; it is still politically motivated. More reactive, than proactive.
Is there a compelling reason for Portland or West Easton to even exist in their current form today? Especially if they cannot provide the basic services you describe?
In addition, there is no reason Bethlehem township should rely on police investigators from Bethlehem or Easton. They have the tax base to support these expenditures. Of course, I’m sure the city of Bethlehem would entertain a merger that represents the interests of the people in both municipalities if it is determined the extent they would need to raise taxes is burdensome.
Bernie, the Memphis SCORPION, who these officers worked under, was a task force. It’s all one and the same.
Racism was built into the institution of policing. From its beginnings as a slave patrol, to later protecting the interest and property of the wealthy, policing has emerged as the collective action of its entire population. That’s why no amount of inclusivity or diversity will ever change the racist culture that policing was built in.
This is why we need to dismantle and abolish modern police tactics.
4:44pm - County-wide police, excellent idea. Especially for small towns and Boroughs that rely on PSP. It'll never happen, too many egos.
1124
. In Lehigh County, a Township with a population of 33k and median home values of $375k still relies exclusively on PSP for municipal protection. Meanwhile a Borough with a population of <4K and median hone value of $225k has their own police.
In part, PA gas tax is providing free municipal police protection to communities that have a means to fund their own.
Time for PA to pass legislation to recover that cost burden from municiplaiites that rely on PSP.
As a "HOME RULE COUNTY", Northampton County can have a "County Wide Police Force". Any Municipality not having a "Police Department" would automatically be a part of the County Police Force and those municipalities that already have a Police Department may opt out. The municipalities being covered by the County Police department would be billed their fair share of the costs. This is what was done with "nine one one" (911) services. There is a grey area here, and that being if the municipality pays for coverage from a neighboring municipality does this allow that municipality to opt out? The County let it be known "LOUD AND CLEAR" several years ago, they do not want a County wide police department. Also, why should a municipality pay for a police force when the state gives them the coverage and someone else pays for the coasts?
Seems like a good idea. Could be the difference between someone getting away with murder because lack of investigative expertise, or someone getting what the deserve.
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