Poll Results: 24/7 Police Coverage is Preferred in Macungie

Results of 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.

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.