I never knew macungie never had 24 hr police protection, but the info is out now and now gives a heads up to someone intending to do harm or vandalize or rob.

I have noticed that the State Police are around quite often making me feel safe enough to have a few gaps in the scheduling of the Macungie Borough Police. I think it is a great idea to help with the budget.

I believe the issue is that 75% of the current budget is spent on the police force, so there's frankly nothing left for anything else. Maximizing the existing agreements would free up cash to provide the other necessary services without raising taxes. Seems pretty simple to me.

Can any of you who continually state the police budget is "75 per cent" of the overall budget please explain the importance of reinstating to full time the positions which were decreased to part time status? I suppose this all comes down to priority and individual priorities will always vary. The value of a community's safety and health is at the top of my list and should NEVER be compromised. Reading some of these comments implying a police dept is extravagant does not resonate with me or those who have experienced the need for police in an emergency! This is similar to those who place a price tag on the value of education or health care for all!!

First, what is the budget issue? Also, how 'bout asking P.S.P. - Fogelsville if they feel they can adequately protect. (I. E. Can the find addresses, & HAVE MANPOWER THERE IN 3 MINUTES)?

Amen to that!!!!!!!!

This is why we need to clean house!!!!! Stupidity!!!!!!!

At the meeting Hoffman admitted the complaints were not simply from residents but COUNCIL as well!!!! Interesting!! Just WHERE are all these complaints documented!!?? Coming from council??!! This ongoing preoccupation with the police chief and his department by this mayor and his cronies on council is quite suspicious and getting old and expensive for this borough! Isn't it interesting how the budget was reopened at the urging of borough manager and all those individuals important to her had their full time status reinstated....no questions asked, however, the 6th police position was cut leading on to this recent debacle! How curious Mr. Becker, who attempts to portray himself as so incredibly "fiscally conscious", took no issue then??!! If these elected officials cannot responsibly see their way through all this, then how can we expect they have the ability to responsibly legislate ANYTHING for our borough!!?? Well....election day cannot come soon enough!!

First of all I think the Macungie Police do a fine job. And for people who complain about being pulled over. . . I've never heard of Macungie PD pulling anyone over who did nothing wrong. If your pulled over it's because you broke the law. Period

That being said, people need to know how EXTREMELY expensive police protection is. I've heard upwards (please correct me if I'm wrong) 75% of TOTAL borough budget. I honestly do not think an open shift on a rolling basis (i.e. you never know when the open shift(s) are) would change anything.

You need to think of it this way. What is it that stops people from committing a crime? Is the low crime rate because the cop is out there physically stopping crime? No. It's because of perception. It's all about deterrence. Would LIMITED open shifts change the deterrent? I would argue no.

If this proposal would go through I would argue you would see no change. If the open shift is on a rolling basis nothing changes. Criminals still know there is a great chance a cop is on duty, the deterrent is still equally effective.

And for those who say 'who would answer a call', well it's the same person who does anytime no one is in the Police station. I think it's some kind of county dispatch which then would call the nearest unit regardless of affiliation. Say the Macungie PD is on another call. Your call would then go to Alburtis, or State or Emmaus. Nothing really changes. You still have coverage your still protected.

Mr. Beitler. With all due respect your last paragraph suggests that you really don't understand. There is a difference between being on another call and not being on duty at all. If the Macungie officer is on a call, it does not automatically go to another department. You really need to listen to the explanation that was provided by the Chief on how that works. If no officer is on duty you will wait for the state police. Period. Keep in mind that they will only respond to emergencies and that is if they are available. It sometimes takes them hours to respond in municipalities where they are the sole police protection. They will not enforce local ordinances also. If you need an officer immediately, would you want to wait hours??? If your business was being broken into and a neighbor called the police, Macungie PD would be there immediately. If they are not on duty, who knows when an officer might get there and how much damage might be done in the interim.

You sound like a sensible person. But, in this case it does not appear you are thinking of all of the possible repercussions of not having an officer on duty or you don't fully understand. I would suggest talking to the chief or an officer directly and have them explain it. I am sure they would be happy to speak with you. My experience is that they will go out of their way to assist and respond to questions.

I do understand it would be much like the situation in LMT (population over 30,000 vs. Borough hair over 3K) I've said many times I think state police protection is adequate in LMT. (Just my opinion) I've never heard 1st hand an example of people waiting hours for state police for serious issues. In fact I've heard the state police responding quickly in cases of silly issues like noise disturbance (FYI LMT doesnt even have a noise ordinance)

If you call Macungie PD off hours... your call doesnt go directly to the cop car. I am sure of that.... It does to a dispatcher. That was my point.

Your right in the case of ordinances. But again... It goes back to LIMITED open shifts on a rolling basis. I just do not think this would have a major effect on the borough. I just don't.

But I respect your opinion.

Now... the whole question of whether it's fair for LMT to rely on state police.. thats a whole other issue. One that won't be coming to a head anytime soon though... since the legistlation forcing townships to pay won't come up for years again. So for now, it's just a it is what it is thing.

(Personally I would love to see LMT, Alburtis and Macungie pool resources to form a regional dept.)

I respect your opinion also. I may not agree with everyone's opinion but I respect them nonetheless provided they are done curteously, as yours always are. One thing though. No call to the police in any department goes directly to the police car. They all go to a dispatcher first. Even PSP. I have heard many, many complaints from residents of LMT and other areas about lack of response from PSP. Not the fault of the department. They too are severely limited by manpower restrictions as well as department policy as to what they can respond to.

I know, I'm not in the "bourough" of macungie, but I'm in lower macungie, and I've never waited more than 5 minutes for state police the three times I've called, I highly doubt it would take very long in an emergency to get a state trooper to your residence or business if the "macungie" police were busy

With all due respect Mr. Beitler, the "perception" of the mayor that you refer to is much more than "perception"....his obstructionist behavior has already occurred and is ongoing by numerous incidents and examples. This is NOT PERCEPTION...it is FACT!!!

Regardless.. the guy has become a polarizing figure. In a small borough this creates issues. Because of this, I hope someone runs against him.

And..... I actually do think he was right to pursue mayor control of the PD. We have civilian oversight of our armed service and police forces in America. This is CRITICAL for fair and impartial law enforcement. It's one of those little things that makes America so special. Again, as I said above. It's the perception thing that muddies the whole debate and makes him ineffective as a mayor.

Reponsible C - I'm just saying. I have no way to know. And I've been to council meetings. But really it's moot what I think or don't think, because as I said.... the perception is out there. And it's damaging. The mayor should have had a little more tact.

Again Mr. Beitler...."Perception" is NOT what this mayor is all about! He is straight ahead with his crazy tactics and his disdain for the police department is NOT "perception! However, you as well as those of us who actually reside in Macungie are entitled to our opinions on this important matter.

Responsible Citizen - We're agreeing! I'm just saying it doesn't matter at this point whats true or not cause the perception is there. And thats HIS fault either way. Thats all. He's a big distraction now. Nothing positive is going to get done while he's mayor. We need good people to run. There are 2 good council members on the board right now, they need support.

Mr. Beitler, you said we only have 2 good council members on the board right now that need our support. Who might they be?

Ok? Isn't that democracy? What's wrong with that. I'm not saying I agree. I'm saying whats wrong with her doing that? She has an opinion and is entitled to it? Her friends can now make up their own minds. I'm assuming they aren't lemmings.

Macungie taxpayers pay the bill for police protection. It is their opinion that matters. The poll should not be skewed by personal agendas causing people from who knows where to weigh in based on being friends with this youg lady. That would be akin to having you out of town friends come to the next election and vote for mayor and council candidates in Macungie. The point is, let's have honest results.

I agree.. but these polls are unscientific across the board. People can influence both ways if they are motivated to. Would love to see this mandate (24/7 protection) go to referendum. Seems like perfect issue to address with one. We don't have enough ballot referendums in PA.

Expose her. That's like lying to Borough & residents - presenting a false picture, to parties sincerely working on problem (or threaten to if she doesn't come forward, stop, and tell about how many false votes she incited).

What's wrong w/ P.T. officers filling in for ill, no-shows, and vacations? They'll cost more, however, also know the Borough better when they are regularly called up. Macungie is not Phila. 1 officer off could be 50% of the force!

John Rogers,
What does it even matter that she is connected to the mayor? That has nothing to do with anything about this topic. She voiced her opinion. Told everyone how she voted. No big deal. She has the right to do so. How sad is it that you have to expose her in any way. And so what if it disappears? It's her choice to show and hide what she wants.

LT- Read my post again. I didn't say she merely voiced her opinion. I said that she was soliciting all of her firends on Facebook, who I am sure do not live in the boro, to go on the site and vote against 24/7 coverage. This is a boro problem. Do I really need to explain why I feel it is sad to utilize the tactic of getting non-residents to skew the poll????

She is allowed to do that ...It is a free country after all and your inference about her
so called connection to the mayor is insulting.

By all means tell us why that would insult you. Should be interesting.

And I never said she wasn't allowed. Simply opinied that it was sad. I am allowed to do that. :-)

Excellent !!

I think this is a great idea!!! I know what mayor sends letters out to the residents for money to pay legal fees. I lmao all the way to the garbage can!!! We need to clean house around here.

Troopers once evaluated, "In an emergency, we can be anywhere in our district in 20 minutes!" - P. S. P. - Fogelsville, few years ago.

I'm in far corner of Allentown - Apt. Security, I'm comforted that A. P. D. averages 2-3 minutes.

I think the term of the following individuals expire next year which means we need to solicit for new people to run and get there names on the ballot for the primary next April.
Council members
Jean Nagle - 12/31/13
Joe Sikorski - 12/31/13
Linn Walker - 12/31/13
Dave Boyko - 12/31/13
Mayor
Rick Hoffman - 12/31/13

Boyko and Sikorski might be the only candidates I would consider relecting provided they don't call it quits because they had enough.

Hoffman, Nagle, Walker and Hutchison are definitely single issue individuals. Nagle has been a power seeker for the many years she has served on council....she is rude, inconsiderate and tremendously intolerant of ANY opinion that does not match hers! I have witnessed her arrogance and disrespect of residents and fellow councilman at numerous meetings!! Her motives are questionable at best. She needs to be eliminated from council. Theroblem in Macunge is the complacency and apathy of our residents....therein lies the problem and one could argue we get the government we deserve as a result. This is exactly why our current council was elected by a paultry minority!