Poll Results: 24/7 Police Coverage is Preferred in Macungie
Voting shows a clear preference.
Results of a Patch poll posted Tuesday show that voters want 24/7 police coverage in the borough of Macungie.
Of the 252 votes cast, 175 were in favor of having a Macungie police officer on duty at all hours of the day and night.
The other 77 votes -- 30 percent of those cast -- indicated that it is sometimes acceptable to have no Macungie police officer on duty.
A contentious discussion at Monday's borough council meeting revealed that Macungie Mayor Rick Hoffman had directed Macungie Police Chief Edward Harry to schedule 25 8-hour police shifts per week.
The mayor's directive also said that the chief could not fill last minute holes in the schedule -- made by illness or other unforeseen circumstance -- with part-time officers. Those officers were to be scheduled to fill in for planned absences, such as vacation, only.
Harry explained that when at least one officer is on duty, even if he or she is out of the borough, the community is better protected because there is back-up from Alburtis and Emmaus in addition to Pennsylvania State Police at Fogelsville.
Without a Macungie officer on duty, Alburtis and Emmaus police have no jurisdiction in Macungie. At that point the only protection is state police, he said.
Kelly
2:50 pm on Sunday, May 27, 2012
Mr. Hoffman....do you get it yet?????
John Rogers
7:48 pm on Sunday, May 27, 2012
Kelly, the vote could have been 1000 to 0. It wouldn't matter. Neither he, Nagle or Walker could care less about what the people want. Their personal agenda and power is all that matters. Just look at the poll and subsequent vote on the GPS. And from what I understand, Hoffman, contrary to what he said publicly, has not let that issue go.
atthebeach
8:25 pm on Sunday, May 27, 2012
Not being able to fill a sudden absence with a part time or even a full time officer is the stupidest thing I heard. Even when someone calls out sick at Mcdonalds they fill in with another employee. Where is the logic to this, that an officer may receive OT as a result? How about this, let the officer who called out take the shift of the person who filled in, it may work some of the time and eliminate some OT.
SICKOFTHEBULL
2:00 pm on Friday, June 1, 2012
ITS A GOOD THING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOESNT THINK LIKE THESE LOCAL YAHOOS AND ELIMINATE PROTECTION OF OUR COUNTRY ON THE WEEKENDS AND AT NIGHT, YOU MIGHT AS WELL PLACE AN AD IN THE PAPER TO THE THIEVES AND KNUCKLEHEADS THERE WILL BE NO POLICE ON DUTY SO THE BOROUGH IS YOURS HAVE AT IT!!!!!!!!!!!! MAYBE WE SHOULD GIVE THEM A SCHEDULE TOO!!!! WAKE UP!!! QUIT PICKING ON THE COPS!!!!!!!!!!