UPPER MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. — Upper Macungie Township’s police department has two new officers.
The township Board of Supervisors held a badge-pinning ceremony for officers James Baker Jr. and Riley Miller at its meeting Thursday.
- Upper Macungie supervisors held a badge-pinning ceremony for two new township police officers
- Police Chief Mike Sitoski said their appointment marks the end of the township’s search for new officers
- In other news, supervisors gave a proclamation honoring resident Jenaye Saunders for receiving the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest achievement in the Girl Scouts
Police Chief Mike Sitoski said the new officers’ appointment marks the end of the township’s search for new officers, which began in 2022.
Baker got a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and sociology at East Stroudsburg University. He is a 2018 graduate of the Allentown Police Academy, and he previously worked full time in Easton’s police department.
Miller studied criminal justice at Kutztown University and got a certification in 2019 at Montgomery County Community College. He worked full time at Southern Chester County Regional Police Department, where he received a DUI Officer of the Year Award.
Sitoski spoke about the “tremendous” amount of support the police department has from the township staff and residents.
“You have a lot of people out there that are gonna want to meet you,” Sitoski said. “I encourage you both to get out of the car, meet people, shake hands, enjoy yourselves.”
Other business
Supervisors gave a proclamation honoring resident Jenaye Saunders. She recently received the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest achievement in the Girl Scouts.
Saunders is a 2022 graduate of Parkland High School and now is in the Air Force National Guard in the pavement and construction shop. She previously received the Zach Kraus Spirit of Service Award and was the first female Eagle Scout in Lehigh County.
Saunders will be honored at the annual Girl Scout Gold Award Ceremony on May 21.
The board voted unanimously to adopt a Vision Zero policy, which has the goal of reducing traffic fatalities to zero by 2032.
The board also adopted a Complete Streets policy, which aims to make the township roads accessible to all modes of transportation, including walking and biking.
The board appointed residents Larry Worsham and Steven Ring to the Zoning Hearing Board, which previously had two alternate vacancies.
“I would encourage people that want to participate — it’s much better if you can join one of these commissions and make a real difference.”Sunny Ghai, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors
There still are two vacancies on the Planning Commission, and Board Chairman Sunny Ghai encouraged residents to apply for the positions.
“These are really important roles to fill," Ghai said. "They help define the future of the township in terms of land development.
“I would encourage people that want to participate — it’s much better if you can join one of these commissions and make a real difference.”
Township Recreation Manager Mike Kukitz gave an update on the township community center. Kukitz said township staff are speaking to potential founding members and applying for grants.
Ghai asked whether Kukitz knew of any time frame for when the community center would be built.
“I wish more than anything that I could tell you when we’re going to put a shovel in the ground, but we just don’t know. We’re kind of in the fundraising stage right now,” Kukitz said.
