Upper Macungie Sets Police Salaries

Upper Macungie Township completed the official hiring of its 27-person police force by setting the salaries for its sergeants, detectives and patrol officers. 

At a short meeting Friday morning, township supervisors unanimously approved the salaries and stipulated that the members will received the same health care and other benefits that other township employees get.

The salaries are:

-- Sergeants William Easparro, Daniel P. Fagan, Joseph J. Geczi, Stephen J. Marshall Jr., Peter V. Nickischer and Cory S. Reader will be paid $66,350 a year.

-- Detectives Adam X. Miller, Darren W. Simmers and Justin M. Wheeler will receive $63,300 a year. 

-- Patrol officers coming from Berks-Lehigh Regional Police Michael A. Cardell, Rober G. Djevharian, Donald M. Fregede, Matthew R. Gardner, Steven F. Kress, Pamela E. Mathias, Nicklaus, J. Morris, Ryan A. Rhoads, William J. Rohrbach, Dathan J. Schlegel, Michael J. Sinko and Adam S. Woodruff will be paid $62,000 a year. 

-- New patrol officers Joshua R. Forrester, Michael E. Holtz and Timothy J. Peters will make $51,000 a year. 

Joseph L. Purfield Jr., who had been offered a job as patrol officer, recently decided to withdraw his application, Township Supervisor Kathy Rader said. The township plans to hire another patrol officer to take his place.

Previously, the township set the salaries for Police Chief Edgardo A. Colon at $85,000; Lieutenants Joseph B. Wilson and Michael Sitoski at $72,000; Office Manager Keri L. Diehl at $45,000, and Clerical Assistant Deborah M. Schnellman at $35,000.

The swearing in and promotion ceremonies will be Friday, Dec. 28 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

The department takes over the policing of Upper Macungie at 6 p.m. Dec. 31. 

The official dedication of the police department will be at the new police station at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15.