Disgraced Ex-Mayor to Run For Nazareth Borough Council

(I have crossed out Strye's exact street address)

Nazareth's ex-Mayor, Carl Strye, was accepted into the ARD program in late September, following a brief hearing before Judge FP Kimberly McFadden. That's a special program for first offenders in which the slate is wiped clean after a period of probation,which in his case is 12 months. He had been charged with felony theft for skimming $8,000 from the Vig, one of the Nazareth area's many social clubs. An admitted thief should have no say in what goes on in a police department, so I was gratified when the District Attorney insisted that Strye resign. He also had to admit what he is - a thief.

Yesterday, Strye filed nomination petitions for Nazareth Borough Council, 3rd ward.

Nazareth's Ex-Mayor Strye- "The Truth Will Come Out"

Nazareth ex-mayor Carl Strye, who was forced to resign in disgrace after being caught skimming money from poker machines at a local club, was feeling no pain on New Year's Eve at Not-So-Holy-Family, his new hang out. He has a strange New Year's message. He claims the truth will come out soon, though the truth has already come out. He's an admitted thief. He's says this will be the "year of the KARMA." According to the Chinese Zodiac, this will actually be the Year of the Cock.

Here's Strye's Facebook rant.

All day Facebook friends and family will be wishing everyone a Happy New Year. I too will join in the madness and also wish all my Facebook friends and family a very safe and Happy New Year.
On a personal note, 2016 was not a very happy year for me. Oh yes, three or four individuals targeted me and i had to make decisions because of their revengeful actions. I hope they feel proud of what they have done, (NOT).The truth will come out in the near future. However, I am a very positive person, always looking at the good and not the bad. Always putting other people ahead of me and always there when someone needs a laugh or a lift.
No matter how bad or how stupid it may have been, there is one thing I do believe in, I believe 2017 will be the year of the KARMA, Everyone who actually knows me know exactly what I am talking about. And when it happens, I will sit back, smile a little and move on.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL! There is no sense looking back, but only to a positive future, I will say it one more time, It is a great day in Nazareth, PA
Thank you to all of my true friends and family for your support!
God Bless all of you and may your New Year be one of the best!

Lisa Strye Defends Dad

Last week, in "Strye Sez Bye," I told you that embattled Nazareth Mayor Carl Strye had finally resigned. He really had no choice. Strye admitted to an investigating grand jury that he stole $8,000 in gambling proceeds from the Vigilance Hose. He was charged with felony theft. District Attorney John Morganelli insisted that Strye resign as a condition to participation in ARD, a special program for first offenders in which charges are wiped clean after serving a period of probation. The prosecutor also demanded Strye to return the money he skimmed from an illegal gambling operation in which he evidently participated for many years. Strye, who has yet to display an ounce of remorse and was still running the police department, had to be shocked to discover that no one is above the law, not even Nazareth's mayor. The good ol' boys are blowin' oil. So is Strye's daughter, Lisa.

She came on this blog yesterday after one of my readers claimed that Strye's two kids are "embarrassed." She threatened this reader with defamation, called him one of my puppets and added for good measure that I am disbarred. She also made clear that she dislikes having to "dabble with the likes of your kind."

Lisa is someone I would ordinarily consider a civilian. Off limits. I certainly would never visit the sins of the father on son or daughter.

But she came on this blog, and in the course of threatening someone with libel, she smeared me as well.

So I have a message for you, Lisa.

Your father is not just a thief, but a liar. He lied to me. Twice.

In response to a direct question, he denied he had appeared before the investigating grand jury. His email denial was sent to me on the very day he had been there.

Your father also lied to me when he denied he had ever engaged in any skimming. On January 26, 2015, this is what he told me: "You can believe me or not, I did not skim anything. I wasn't brought up that way. I have a very good paying job as a regional Manager of a very large carwash distributorship. But of course, people will say what they want without proving or investigating anything. They only thing I got from the vendor was [sic] baseball, hockey or football tickets. Never any money." A year later, in Grand Jury testimony and under oath, your father admitted to stealing at least $8,000.

When you come on this blog, it is like coming into my house. I understand that you would dislike me and don't blame you. He's your Dad, and I respect your love for him. But on this blog, you are a guest. As a guest, I assume you've been taught it's impolite to insult the host, especially with lies. And like your father, you have lied.

I have no puppets among my readers, as you call them. I'm not like your dad and do not pack meetings or this blog with people who will back me up. Also, this is a small point, but I was never disbarred. I was suspended, damn it! Get it right. By your own definition of libel, I can now sue and collect everything you have. But don't worry. Your definition is incorrect.

I'm sure that Detective Casciano would like to talk to you concerning your college loans and how they were paid. I'm sure he has lots of questions and would love to get to know you. Why not give him a ring? Maybe you can set him straight.

Strye Sez Bye

Carl Strye, Jr., who is facing criminal charges as a result of his admitted theft of $8000 in gambling proceeds from Vigilance Hose, finally resigned as Nazareth's Mayor last night. It's something he should have done in April, when he was first charged.

This resignation was insisted upon by NorCo DA John Morganelli as a condition to Strye's participation in the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program. That's a special docket for first offenders in which charges are wiped clean after a successful probationary period. Morganelli also insisted on full restitution,and Strye must agree to stay out of the Mayor's race next year.

The final decision will be made by the courts.      

In his letter of resignation, submitted to the good ol' boys before the meeting, Strye refers to the theft charges as "my issue." Amazingly, he pats himself on the back for making sure that the "police department is moving in the right direction with Commissioner [Randy] Miller in charge."

Top cop Miller was undoubtedly delighted to hear this praise from an admitted thief.

That's what worries me. What direction is the police department headed in when one of its own, Officer Stephen Schleig, has been forced to sue again?

According to The Express Times, Strye was immediately replaced by John "Shame Us" Samus, in an obvious done deal. In April, when I called on Strye to resign and was repeatedly shouted down, Shame Us wanted everyone who owns real estate in Nazareth to raise their hands. Most people did. I did not.

Then he point-blank asked me, "Do you own a home?"

I don't, and he was very pleased with himself.

"Does this mean I'm a second class citizen?" I asked.

"No."

"Are you saying that only the landed gentry may speak?"

"No."

"Then what is your point?"

His only point was to shame me. I am poor. I'm part of the riff raff and need not be taken seriously. He forgot that Lance Colondo, another member of Borough Council, is also a renter.

Strye is unfortunately only one head of a Lernaean Hydra that includes the entire Borough Council. They all need to go.

In April, I called on them to resign, too.

It will take a Hercules to rid Nazareth of these self-important potentates.

DA: Mayor Strye Can Have ARD If He Resigns

Morganelli with former Nazareth Police
Officer Eric Schwab, who left for
Stockertown. 

Nazareth Mayor Carl Strye has been charged with skimming $8,000 from gambling operations at the Vig Hose, where he was president for many years before being appointed Mayor. He admitted his theft in Grand Jury testimony. After being charged, he waved his preliminary hearing, something innocent people don't do. Last week, he applied for something called Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD). That's a special program for first offenders in which charges are dismissed after a period of probation.

On Monday, I argued that Strye's resignation should be a condition of ARD. NorCo DA John Morganelli agrees. (His letter approving Strye's application is below). Morganelli is willing to admit Strye into this special program, but on two conditions. First, Strye must make full restitution of the $8000 he skimmed. Second, Strye must resign his position as Mayor.

Morganelli is troubled by Strye’s involvement in, not just theft, but illegal gambling. Some of you have wondered about this, so let me stop for a moment to make clear that a District Attorney enforces the Crimes Code, not the Liquor Code. The Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement investigates allegations of illegal gambling. The state usually acts administratively through the Liquor Control Board, and not criminally. That is why DAs across the state have little involvement in illegal gambling.

Still, I personally believe there is a direct connection between these machines and organized crime. Who supplies the machines these clubs use? Who gets part of the take? Who showers people like Strye with tickets to big sporting events? Strye has admitted to me that he accepts tickets, and I am sure those were never shared with members of the Vig, nor was the value of these tickets reported on income tax returns.

In 1990, the now defunct Pa. Crime Commission claimed that a loose confederation of racketeers, including Bootsie Shumar, were bookmakers who ran the poker machines in the Lehigh Valley. Feds raided the Easton Fleas, where Bootise was an owner, in 2004. According to the US Attorney, Bootsie was giving $1,000 per week kickbacks to club stewards. He was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison despite words of praise from Easton Mayor Sal Panto. It was Shumar's sixth gambling conviction.

Was Bootsie supplying the machines used by "Sneakers" Strye, as they call the Nazareth Mayor?

Strye would know.

And that's a problem. In addition to being associated with the gambling underworld, something he has continued at other clubs, Strye is in charge of Nazareth's beleaguered police department. The fox is quite literally in the hen house.  So is Council member Larry Stoudt, who is also involved in the illegal poker operations at the clubs. He actually tried to use local police to rat out a state police informant at the Legion, where he tends bar.

Ironically, Borough Council President Dan Chiavaroli praised Strye in The Morning Call for his work on the police department, which they've emasculated. The last thing Strye or Council wants is an effective police department. 

Fortunately, Morganelli rejects Nazareth's so-called  leaders. "This office would be remiss in allowing Mr. Strye to continue to be in charge of police operations and supervision as a result of his criminal conduct."

Morganelli Demands Mayor's Resignation as Condition of ARD by BernieOHare on Scribd

Nazareth Mayor, An Accused Thief, Belittles Black Man For Stealing Food

Above is an interesting video purporting to show some black dude caught attempting to steal frozen meat from a grocery store. Though the store "manager" looks like he's about 90, a big and strong young man stops dead in his tracks and begins emptying frozen meat out of his baggy pants. The place where this occurred and actors involved are never identified. Personally, I think the whole thing is a set up designed to make black people look like lazy and worthless pieces of shit with saggy pants. So naturally, Nazareth Mayor Carl Strye

Nazareth Mayor Carl Strye, who himself faces charges of skimming at least $8,000 from the Vigilance Hose and admitted his theft to a Grand Jury, should be the last person to wag his finger at another thief. Yet on Facebook, he has decided to feature this unidentified shoplifter at an unidentified store.

The black dude explained he was stealing food so he could feed his family. Strye was stealing from the Vig so he could buy another RV.

Strye also points to the decision to hire two more full-time officers. "We still have some work to do, but good things take time," he states.

When a fox is running the henhouse, is that a good thing?

Strye has tainted the police department with his own corruption, and things will remain that way until he resigns.

Nazareth's Culture of Corruption

Strye at Myrtle Beach in March

Last week, Nazareth Mayor Carl Strye was charged with falsifying records and skimming $8,000 from Nazareth Vigilance Hose Co. when he was President there. This is something he admitted during Grand Jury testimony in January. He's hoping for ARD, a special program for first offenders. But he refuses to resign. Displaying no remorse, he has told reporters that he can still somehow supervise the police department and actually presents himself as a victim. He complains that the whole affair should have been handled "in house instead of at the courthouse." He points to overwhelming support from his Facebook pals. These sycophants include Council members and people like Main Street manager Stephanie Varrone, who has 20,000 reasons to like him. Outside this closed circle, people want Falsify Strye gone.

He's been ordered to stay away from the Vig, where he did his skimming. But for over a year, he's been spending more and more time at the the Holy Family Social Club, ingratiating himself with another social club that has had its share of gambling problems over the years. If you wanted something done, you could meet Falisify Strye there and buy him a few drinks. Want the cops to intervene in a dispute with your neighbor? I know for a fact that he has intervened in several police matters directly as a result of these visits.

He was holding court there as recently as last night.

"Bingo!" he cried as he managed to win.

Strye at Flyers

Now Strye does take care of Holy Family, too. Behind that social club is an alleyway. Beck Street, which extends about three blocks to nowhere. Strye made sure that a nice fresh coat of macadam was laid down last year, even though only one home actually faces this alley In the meantime, driving around the circle is like driving on a washboard.

On New Year's Eve, Falsfy Strye sat at the head table for that club's year-end celebration. He went to every table and handed each a bottle of champagne. "Compliments of the Borough of Nazareth," he'd say

Let's hope that he was just falsifyin', and that the Borough did not actually buy this booze.

I could ask Interim Secretary and Treasurer Glenn Steckman, but I'm hearing he's already flown the coop and is hoping to get picked up by Reading.

I won't run down whether Nazareth bought this booze, but do know there is a culture of corruption.

Since the beginning of this year, Strye has been on thee trips and to a Flyers' game.

"Thanks Reno for the ticket," he said on January 25 when he was at The Flyers' game. In early March, he flew to Kentucky, where he watched his granddaughter play in a volleyball tournament Later in the month, it was a three-day golf tournament at Myrtle Beach that also included Nazareth Public Works Director Bob Reimer. "Thank you Don B. And Joe Mac!" His latest trip, earlier this month, was to Las Vegas. He claimed that was for business.

Falsify Strye seems to regards the entire Borough of Nazareth as one gigantic social club. I'm surprised he hasn't set up poker machines in the circle. Borough Council is right there with him. Last October, they voted unanimously to apply for a $52,900 gaming grant from Monroe County for improvements at the American Legion. That's where Larry Sroudt, a Council member, works as a bartender. That club is routinely hit with gambling violations. In fact, Stoudt was himself placed on ARD for interfering with a state gambling investigation aimed at social clubs. They effectively voted to subsidize an illegal gambling operation with money from Mount Airy Lodge, a legal operation.

There was no attempt to seek money for its police or fire operations.

Speaking of police, "Commissioner" Randy Miller was brought in to make life miserable for cops who are actually interested in enforcing the law evenly. In July, he pushed for and got retired Bethlehem cop Joseph Gross, who acted as his IA guy in Bethlehem. This is the guy who tickets people at Mass, engages in 70 mph chases through borough streets and fails to respond to back up requests when shots are fired. .

In addition to failing to respond as a back up when someone exercised his second amendment rights against hermit crabs, he also failed to respond when Officer Kyle Stout [no relation to Larry Stoudt] encountered a man who was exercising his second amendment right to throw a M-80 at someone's home. Stout was punched in the jaw and forced to use pepper spray to subdue his assailant. Back up Gross didn't show up until Stout was handcuffing the assailant.

Gross tells other cops that he will be Nazareth's next chief when Randy Miller goes to Emmaus, where he expects to take over

In the meantime, Officer Stout is leaving Nazareth for Wilson Borough. Police Officers who know they have to work with Gross call off.

Gross, incidentally, has applied to join Nazareth's social clubs.

This is just some of what I'd call a culture of corruption in Nazareth. This is without looking at the strange relationship between the borough and its money-making ambulance company or its sewer authority. Those are separate stories.

Maybe This Will Tarnish Carl Strye's "Love" For Nazareth

(The following is an open letter to Nazareth Mayor Carl Strye)

Dear Carl,

I threw up a little in my mouth when I saw your latest Express Times spin over an admitted theft. "My love for Nazareth will never be tarnished," you claim. You say you have had nothing but support, no one has asked you to resign, and point to your Facebook sycophants as proof that you are  swell guy. I am telling you, as a Nazareth resident and voter, that I want you to resign. If you refuse, you should be denied ARD, which is what we all know you are trying to get.

You need to resign because, unfortunately, you are both a thief and a liar. You have completely failed to demonstrate remorse. You even think an accused felon can run a police department. This undermines public confidence in government and taints the integrity of every criminal investigation and prosecution being pursued in Nazareth. Nazareth deserves better. Its police department deserves better. If you really do love Nazareth, step down. If not, you should be denied entry into ARD.

Of the 84 votes cast on my online poll thus far, only six persons think you should stay in office. The Express Times call for your resignation was at 81% when I last checked.

You admitted to a Grand Jury that you stole $8,000 from a very worthwhile nonprofit. In reality, you undoubtedly stole a far greater sum, which explains why you go on trips at the drop of a hat and can afford to attend so many professional sports events.

You are also a liar, which goes hand in had with being a thief. You lied to me. Repeatedly. Let's review.

January 2015 Denial

I first got wind of a possible criminal investigation into skimming in January of last year, and I asked you about it. In an email to me dated January 26, 2015, you said:

"You can believe me or not, I did not skim anything. I wasn't brought up that way. I have a very good paying job as a regional Manager of a very large carwash distributorship. But of course, people will say what they want without proving or investigating anything. They only thing I got from the vendor was baseball, hockey or football tickets. Never any money. I do not know what is happening now, because I distanced myself from that to concentrate on being Mayor."

We now know that was a lie. But like an idiot, I believed you.

March 2015 Denial

Over that cold 2015 Winter, amid snow emergencies being declared twice a week, I advised you that I was hearing rumors about a Grand Jury investigation, and asked if you had been subpoenaed. On March 3, 2015, this is what you said: "Berne, I have not been subpoenaed for anything. Do not know anything about it. However, If I were, I would cooperate 100% and let them know the value of these machines and why they are needed in private clubs." I had called you the King of Illegal Poker Machines, and you made this request:

"Can you please stop calling me the Illegal Poker machine person. Everyone in town knows about the poker machines and that the Vigilance had them along with other establishments. You never mention the new president who took over for me. I know I am a target in my position, so I am asking you kindly to stop.

"Man to Man.....Please."

You went on to say:

"Does it look bad on my part? somewhat. But I never had any conversations with our local police while I was in or out of office. It was just they way it was. Right or wrong, the police stayed away.

"According to Vig. Prez.Troy Keenhold, he is not bringing back the machines. He never dealt with the state police and I think he got scared. That is up to him and the Board of trustees of the Hose. I wish them well.

"Personally, I am not a corrupt person. I also think the other municipal leaders thought the same thing. Never even crossed my mind concerning the machines. However, I do get what you are saying. But I think the press has suppressed the poker machine issue and agreed they need to be legalized. This might have taken a little steam or pressure off of who was involved."

Once again, you lied. But like an idiot, I eased up.

January 2016 Denial

As Winter turned Summer and Fall, I discounted most of the rumors until I began seeing Nazareth firefighters going into the Grand Jury. They were obviously not seeking donations. I heard that you had been subpoenaed and asked you about it. On January 14. 2016, you denied  you had been in front of the Grand Jury and added, "I have nothing to hide. I have a very good paying job and can prove my investments. The vigilance hose is not the fleas."

This was another lie. In fact, you had been in front of the Grand Jury just three days before, on January 11, 2016, and had admitted to stealing $8,000. But like an idiot, I still believed you. I even agreed to sit down with you at some future date.

That date never came. Instead, the rumors continued to intensify. On March 16, 2016, I wrote to tell you I had heard you were a target of the Grand Jury.. The DA refused comment, but I told you that a former gas station owner had reported you were entering a plea.

You responded by saying "I have not admitted to anything," followed by "I have no comment."

In fact, you had admitted to stealing two months earlier at a Grand Jury at which you denied being present. Once again, you lied.

But I no longer believed you.

It wasn't until I went through my email exchanges with you that I realized that there is little difference between me and your Facebook sycophants or your "friends" in Nazareth. You spun us all. You are quite the manipulator.

Next time you want to tell some reporter that no one has asked you to resign, remember this email. Resign for the sake of the Borough you claim to love. Stop diminishing the integrity of the police department with your continued presence. If you do not resign, I will ask the DA and the courts to deny your application for ARD. I question whether someone like you, who has displayed no remorse, deserves ARD.

You see, I love Nazareth, too.

Should Strye Resignation Be Condition of ARD?

Nazareth Mayor Carl Strye is an admitted thief. The affidavit of probable cause supporting the felony theft charges against him cites Grand Jury testimony in which he admitted pocketing money and falsifying records. He took money from a worthy nonprofit, making him no better than someone who steals from the collection plate.

In Pennsylvania, borough Mayors have very little power. But they do have authority over the police department. So a fox is in the hen house.

I'm not particularly troubled by the fact that he lied to me. I expect that from politicians. But I am frankly appalled by the comments he made to The Express Times, in which he displays absolutely no remorse for his conduct.

He incredibly claims he can still run the police department with a "left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing" bullshit argument. He also complained that he wanted this kept "in house," out of the public eye. There was no apology for letting the community down. No shame.

I expect that Strye will apply for participation in the ARD program, a special program for first offenders in which charges are dismissed after a successful period of probation. Though it;s a bit unusual in felony cases, it happens.

But after reading his complete unwillingness to accept responsibility, he should be denied participation in this program unless he resigns as Mayor. Allowing a person like that to continue in office will completely erode public confidence in government.

I have a poll for this topic on my left sidebar. Let me know what you think.

Nazareth Mayor Charged With Skimming From Vigilance Hose

Just when you think things could never possibly be more cRaZy in Nazareth than they already are, this tiny borough reaches a brand level of insanity. Today, Nazareth Borough Mayor Carle Strye, age 53, was charged with skimming about $8,000 in gambling proceeds (which itself is illegal), from the Vigilance Hose Company. He was their President before being elected Mayor. This is a third degree felony with a maximum sentence of seven years in the slammer and a $15,000 fine. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 3, 9 am, and he has been released on $10,000 unsecured bail. As I write this, he is hiding inside borough hall, hoping to avoid the photographers standing outside.

In the borough form of government, the Mayor serves as the head of the police department. So here in Nazareth, that department is now being run by a man accused of stealing $8,000 from a nonprofit that could use the money. A man who admitted in Grand jury testimony that he stole money from a nonprofit created to serve the community.

Only in Nazareth.

Nazareth also has a Police Chief, a retired cop from the Big Apple, and a Commissioner.  The Commissioner was Strye's idea  He brought in Randy Miller, Northampton County's former Sheriff, to ride herd on the full-timers and destroy the union.

These guys will only work day shift, supervising  two full-time officers and a potpourri of part-timers who get no benefits, are unable to join the police union and hence have no real loyalty.

The ultimate goal of this accused thief and his accomplices on Council is not just to destroy the police union, but to render the police department itself entirely useless.

Reporters await hiding mayor

Commissioner Randy Miller is doing a fine job of making things worse. He brought in one of his buddies, a retired Bethlehem cop, who decided not long ago to ticket a number of cars parked on the wrong side of the street during Sunday Mass. Just weeks ago, he endangered lives in Nazareth with a 70 mph chase [revealed by his own frickin' dash cam] of a suspended driver. Miller denied there was a pursuit even though his pal could be heard on the radio, telling dispatchers that he was "in pursuit." This is also the guy who arrived late for a "shots fired" call that resulted when one Nazareth resident recently invoked the castle doctrine against, of all things, hermit crabs.

Miller, Strye and Borough Council did manage to rid themselves of the best police officer I've ever seen, Freddy Lahovski. They had to pay him the largest settlement ever provided to a Lehigh Valley police officer for violating his civil rights in a country whereit's usually the other way around. This is on top of nearly two years of salary that had to be paid because they illegally fired him. Two other police officers have also filed suit.

You see, Borough Council and Mayor Carl Strye like to meddle in police business.

They don't want cops sticking their noses in places where they don't belong, like the social clubs.

Mayor's parking spot is empty

Look at Council member Larry Stoudt, who tended bar at the local American Legion. He pressured Nazareth police to run the license plate of a suspected informant. He was charged with interfering with a state police investigation, and was later placed on ARD, a special program for first offenders.

Amazingly, Stoudt was easily re-elected.

Though they may have thought they got rid of their problem, they were wrong.

Now Strye has been charged with outright theft, and has no intention of stepping down as Mayor. An accused thief is now calling the shots at the police department.

How could this happen? A little over a year ago, (first reported on this blog), liquor control enforcement officers with the Pennsylvania State Police descended upon three Nazareth area social clubs simultaneously in a raid on illegal gambling. They seized cash and poker machines at the Vigilance Hose and two other social clubs. These raids are almost an annual rite. Clubs get busted, and are back in business the next week.

Although often regarded as a victimless offense, gambling addicts will spend their entire paychecks on a poker machine. Those machines are usually provided by someone with ties to organized crime. Also, unlike a strictly regulated casino, some social clubs will rig their machines to suck money away from some patrons while steering cash to others. Perhaps the biggest problem is skimming. Machine operators often get quite wealthy by pocketing a large percentage of the money used for gambling. Instead of a worthy nonprofit, some steward pockets the money to buy a snowmobile or a second home

Until he was elected Mayor in 2013, Carl Strye was President of Nazareth Vigilance Hose Co, one of the social clubs regularly hit in seven previous raids. At the time of the most recent surprise visit, agents followed one steward to his home, where they seized more money.

How can the police be expected to trust a government official who was the responsible officer for an outfit that was cited seven times before last year's raid? Doesn't this place the fox in the hen house?

Borough police have little to do with gambling. They rely on PSP. But they do have jurisdiction over Crimes Code violations. That would include skimming, which is theft.

After that raid, the social clubs got together and were able to out the undercover officer responsible. They made sure the identity of this person was disclosed at a Super Bowl Party held at Holy Family. But the fun was just beginning.

One Nazareth cop, despite being dumped on from every direction, was sticking his nose where it doesn't belong. That cop is Freddy Lahovski

He began hearing complaints from officers at the Vig that Strye had been skimming from the club. Not just $8,000. Lahovski went to Commissioner Randy Miller. "He ignored me,": Lahovski states. "You're only going to be around as long as you're useful to me," is what Lahovski reports Miller told him.

Lahovski also went to Carl Fischl, the Borough Council member in charge of the police committee, and was ignored there, too.

Realizing he would get no help from a department being run by the person under suspicion, Lahovski took his concerns to the District Attorney. The only person who knew about this was his immediate supervisor, Chief Thomas Trachta, who had gone through the same thing himself when Council member Stoudt wanted him to run the plate of a suspected state police agent. . .

I have been highly critical of Trachta in the past for his arrogance, but he at least is an honest cop and attempted in no way to interfere. Miller, on the other hand, was unhappy when Lahovski told him he had gone to the DA, after the fact  Lahovski  asked the DA to handle the matter because he knew that the DA had the resources, especially an Investigating Grand Jury. Detective John Casciano was assigned, and began the painstaking task of putting together the evidence.

Freddy knew this would be a death sentence to his job as a Nazareth cop. "I'm out of a job, but it was the right thing to do," said Lahovski. "I would do it again."

Eventually, I approached Mayor Carl Strye, who vigorously denied any wrongdoing. He did say he was looking forward to an appearance before the Grand Jury. In my last contact with him, he said he had "no comment."

What is clear is that the Mayor and Borough Council used their positions to retaliate against the very people tasked with the responsibility of protecting the public.

Strye is represented by Bob Eyer. Though Eyer is the Chief Public Defender, he is reportedly representing Strye as private counsel.

As I made my way back home to write this story, I saw a Nazareth police officer. "I'm tired of all this," he told me. "I just want to do my job."