BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Bethlehem and Allentown have been allocated $75,000 and $200,000, respectively, in state funding to bring on new police officers.
Bethlehem looks to offer $5,000 bonuses as incentive to recruit 15 officers to its current ranks of 154, while Allentown’s money would support the recruitment of 40 new officers, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis said Wednesday at an announcement event at Bethlehem Town Hall.
The funding comes as part of the first wave of allocations from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, totaling $1 million across 20 departments.
Davis, who described police department staffing shortages around the state as a "crisis," serves as the PCCD chairman.
“Everyone should have the freedom to be safe and feel safe in their communities,” Davis said. “We can’t thrive as a commonwealth if we’re not meeting that basic need for safety and security.”
Davis said there’s still money available out of a total $14 million allocated, and local law enforcement agencies, campus or university police, rail or airport authority police and county park police all are eligible.
“An increase in qualified police candidates will help us fill outstanding vacancies, thereby allowing us to continue to provide quality police services to our community."Bethlehem Police Chief Michelle Kott
Bethlehem Police Chief Kott said such incentives will help attract “the best and brightest” candidates to serve the city.
“An increase in qualified police candidates will help us fill outstanding vacancies, thereby allowing us to continue to provide quality police services to our community,” Kott said.
She said police departments around the country are currently challenged with recruiting.
For Bethlehem, Kott said she's seen some potentials not be able to handle the physical fitness or education requirements. And in some cases, people are "hesitant" to pursue a career in law enforcement for social reasons, she added.
'Makes us sleep at night better'
Kott said the department had five cadets graduate from the police academy last Friday, with four others hired Monday. The ranks currently have five openings, she said.
And when the city officially gets the money, Kott said, it'll be dispersed appropriately.
“There is something special about this place,” Kott said, speaking of Bethlehem and her department.
“We have multiple units and visions, different specialties that people can get involved in. The sky’s the limit here at the city of Bethlehem.”
“We have multiple units and visions, different specialties that people can get involved in. The sky’s the limit here at the city of Bethlehem.”Bethlehem Police Chief Michelle Kott
The department also got PCCD funding last year that will be used for bonuses for officers hired last year as well as updated car and body cameras.
The city’s recently approved 2024 budget calls for a 3% increase in police salaries, totaling a half-million-dollar allotment.
“We are always looking for more people that want to step up, and in these difficult days of 2023, law enforcement is not an easy job,” Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds said.
“But one of the things that makes us sleep at night better here in Bethlehem — and, you know, I think I can speak for Chief Kott here as well — is that we have people in Harrisburg that understand that our number one priority is public safety.”
Legislators' comments
“It’s a stressful job being a police officer,” state Sen. Lisa Boscola said.
“But when our communities are safe and families feel safe, businesses want to open and our whole community gets stronger and safer — and the quality of life is just enhanced.”
State Rep. Steve Samuelson said, “This funding will help attract and retain new police officers, and also let people know that the city of Bethlehem is a great place to work.”
Davis said he and Gov. Josh Shapiro on Monday helped break ground on a new “state-of-the-art” state police facility in Hershey, Dauphin County, one of its broadest updates since it opened in 1960.
“Our state trooper cadets deserve the best — the best training and the best facilities — so they are prepared for whatever lies ahead,” Davis said.
“Here in Bethlehem and across the Lehigh Valley, local police officers deserve the best we can give them, as well.”
Some Bethlehem officers have expressed concern surrounding the aging department at City Hall.
