Update on Our Poll: Should Macungie Put its Own GPS Systems in Police Cars?

Editor's note: Our poll will be available for reader votes through the weekend and will close at 8 a.m. Monday.

At last week's borough council meeting, Macungie Mayor Rick Hoffman again tried to move council to vote to place a GPS system in borough police cars that can be monitored by him from his home.

And though he has not consulted with Police Chief Edward Harry Jr. about any of the characteristics of the system or even that he wants to put the units in the cars, Hoffman says Harry will also be able to monitor the system from police headquarters.

Lehigh County recently put GPS systems in police cars throughout the county. They were installed in the Macungie cars about a month ago.

The county systems can do all the things the mayor's preferred system can do, however, they can only be monitored by county personnel. They cannot be monitored by Hoffman at his home.

The borough struggled with its 2012 budget, faced potential cuts in personnel and services and ultimately reopened the budged in January and raised taxes more than originally expected.

The GPS systems will cost at least $2,000 for the second and third years of operation.

Though the mayor, as per the state's Borough Code, is in charge of the police department, should borough council vote to install the mayor's GPS systems in borough police cars?