Will Breakup of Berks-Lehigh Regional Police Force End Up in Court?

Maxatawny Township contends in a lawsuit that member municipalities of the Berks-Lehigh Regional Police Department cannot agree on how to divvy up assets, now that Upper Macungie will have its own force. A Dec. 7 hearing was set.

  Maxatawny Township contends in a lawsuit that member municipalities of the Berks-Lehigh Regional Police Force cannot agree on how to divvy up the police department's assets, but Upper Macungie Supervisor Sam Ashmar says "that wasn't ever true." As Upper Macungie gets ready to start its own 28-member police force on Jan. 1, the township now finds itself in a potential legal battle with Maxatawny, which filed the suit Nov. 1 against the regional police department as well as its other member municipalities of Upper Macungie, Topton and Lyons. "Maxatawny is not playing nice in the sandbox," Ashmar said earlier this week, as the township waited to be officially served with the suit.  "I think Maxatawny used very poor judgment in using …

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Berks-Lehigh Commission Looks to Expedite Issues

The Berks-Lehigh Regional Police Commission met Monday night to talk about expediting the dissolution of the force.

The Berks-Lehigh Regional Police Commission discussed ways to expedite its dissolution Monday night at its agenda meeting. The police chiefs of Upper Macungie Township, Topton Borough, Lyons Borough and Maxatawny Township will meet this week to discuss division of assets. Then the commission will meet again on Sept. 17 after each borough and the board of supervisors has met to discuss the situation. "We need to be in a position to be having two meetings a month to get things moving," said commissioner Sam Ashmar. "There are a lot of issues and feedback to go through. We need to sort through inventory. There are a lot of issues the chiefs won't know and we need a firm timeline." "We're getting towards crunch time. We're three months away […

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Upper Macungie Officials Begin Budget Talks

Even though it's only August, township supervisors and department heads got together Monday to begin forming the 2013 Upper Macungie budget.

Upper Macungie supervisors and department heads got together Monday afternoon and began the formal process of hashing out the 2013 township budget. The mid-afternoon session was light on details as department heads still must meet with the treasurer, but there was one topic of debate that was at the forefront -- just how much is the new Upper Macungie Police Department going to cost? That question is still up in the air, since the breakup of the Berks-Lehigh Regional Police Department is still ongoing. Part of the problem, according to township supervisor Sam Ashmar, is how much of the early retirement and pension system Upper Macungie will be on the hook for. That will be up to solicitors and the Berks-Lehigh Regional Police Commission to…

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New Police Station to Open in May

The new police station on Grim Road construction should be completed by early May; the township is now also looking to build a new police department.

Completion of the new Berks-Lehigh Regional Police station is back on track. Upper Macungie supervisors received an update on construction of the station on 37 Grim Road at their meeting March 1. "The roof has been completed. The sprinkler system is being put in. Exterior doors, framing and electrical work is all being done," Supervisor Kenneth W. Molony told the board. "We're back on schedule." Molony, who also serves as director of community development, said the target date for the station to open is early May. Some weather troubles slowed the project a little bit but construction has been moving along, he said.  The Berks-Lehigh Police Regional Department has been headquartered out of Maxatawny Township during the construction period. …

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Police Blotter

Police Report 18 Crimes Feb. 20 To Feb. 26

Berks-Lehigh Regional Police report of citations, arrests and calls for Upper Macungie, Feb. 20 to Feb. 26.

The above information was supplied by the Berks-Lehigh Regional Police Department, 610-683-8740. It does not indicate a conviction.

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Police Blotter

Police Report Six Arrests Feb. 6 To Feb. 12

Berks-Lehigh Regional Police report of citations, arrests and calls for Upper Macungie, Feb. 6 to Feb. 12.

 The above information was supplied by the Berks-Lehigh Regional Police Department, 610-683-8740. It does not indicate a conviction.

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Police Blotter

Police Report 80 Traffic Tickets Jan. 30 To Feb. 5

Berks-Lehigh Regional Police report of citations, arrests and calls for Upper Macungie, Jan. 30 to Feb. 5.

 The above information was supplied by the Berks-Lehigh Regional Police Department, 610-683-8740. It does not indicate a conviction.

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New Police Station Nearly Complete

Berks-Lehigh station expected to open in late April or early May

Upper Macungie supervisors were informed Thursday night that the new Berks-Lehigh Regional Police station at 37 Grim Road should be completed soon and open by the end of April or early May. Director of Community Development Ken Molony told supervisors that much of the construction was moving along at a fairly rapid pace and, aside from some weather problems, should be completed on time. The Berks-Lehigh Police Regional Department has been headquartered out of Maxatawny Township during the construction period.

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Brunell

11:07 am on Saturday, February 4, 2012

Are you kidding me? Forced to quit? He submitted a letter of resignation to the police commission. In that letter he stated that he was going to take early retirement to peruse a better opportunity, UNLESS, the board re-negotiated his contract, which was not up until June of this year. That is FAR from quitting. That is attempting to utilize differential leverage to increase your salary. He has …   more ›

Police Blotter

Police Report 77 Traffic Tickets Jan. 23 to Jan. 29

Berks-Lehigh Regional Police report of citations, arrests and calls for Upper Macungie, Jan. 23 to Jan 29.

 The above information was supplied by the Berks-Lehigh Regional Police Department, 610-683-8740. It does not indicate a conviction.

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Police ID Suspect in Child Luring Case

Berks-Lehigh Regional Police still seek the public's assistance in Upper Macungie case.

Berks-Lehigh Regional Police said Friday they, with the public's assistance, have identified a suspect in a possible child luring case in Upper Macungie Township. The incident occurred Wednesday at approximately 4 p.m. in the area of Warba Drive and Chapmans Road in Upper Macungie Township. Police say two girls were approached by a male and were asked to go with him. Police say the suspect is a white male approximately 30 years old, 5’ 7", with a heavy build and gray/brown hair wearing a black Steelers sweater with yellow striping. Police say this incident remains under investigation. Investigators are asking that anyone that may have observed the incident to contact the police department at 610-683-8740.  

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