By Michael Buck
The Eastern Pennsylvania Express-Times
EASTON, Pa. — City police are adding six officers and hope to have the streets fully staffed by year’s end for the first time in at least five years, police officials said.
After conducting oral exams with 116 people over three weeks, Capt. Michael Vangelo said his department is running background checks on the top six candidates.
If those six accept jobs, only four will need to be sent to a six-month police academy in Allentown, Vangelo said. Two of the top six are certified police officers and could start work immediately, Vangelo said.
The city’s police have not had a full staff of 63 officers in about five years, Chief Larry Palmer said. In 2006, only 41 officers were employed, Palmer said.
Since then, the city has slowly gained personnel. The addition of officers has sparked the return of some community policing programs such as bicycle patrol officers and the Downtown beat cop.
Palmer, who took medical leave last week, said it’s rare to have a full crew of officers under his command. Once the department is fully staffed, someone often retires, he said.
“You’re never caught up for long,” Palmer said. “It’s just the nature of the business.”
Vangelo said the latest civil service list is larger than what the city has seen in recent years. Vangelo said he attributes that to one thing.
“People need jobs,” he said.
Just more than 200 people initially applied for the civil service test. The final list was whittled down after physical agility and written tests. The balance of the applicants had to be personally interviewed by Easton police brass. The interviews began in early May.
Candidates were given scenario-based questions during their interviews to see how they would handle certain situations such as breaking up a bar fight or responding to a car crash, Vangelo said.
City officers sent to the academy make about $35,000 a year. Once certified, they make about $43,500. Annual increases based on seniority cap at six years, which translates into an annual salary of $56,700.
While six officers could be ready for duty by the end of the year, five others could leave the department under an early retirement incentive.
Vangelo said he is eligible for the incentive along with Palmer, Lt. James Reilly, Lt. John Remaley and Sgt. Tom Smith.
None of them has made definitive plans to turn in his uniform, Vangelo said, but that hasn’t stopped the brass from planning ahead.
“We’re always thinking ahead about succession planning,” Vangelo said.
Copyright 2010 Eastern Express Times