Lansford looks for part-time officers

Lansford Borough Council members this week discussed the difficulty with hiring part-time police officers.

Council member John Turcmanovich said that the “current overtime is quite high,” due to staffing shortages in the department.

Mayor James Romankow added that officers have been working 12-hour shifts.

Though the borough has been advertising part-time positions, the police department is receiving few applicants.

Turcmanovich said this is because other local departments are hiring for full-time positions.

Last month council voted to increase pay for part-time officers to $21 to $23 per hour, depending on how long the officer has been with the department.

Part-time officers were previously paid $16 per hour.

Lansford Police Department Chief Jack Soberick said the shortage of officers is a national problem which is affecting many local departments.

Soberick said most of the applicants for part-time jobs are young officers who are awaiting a full-time position. When one becomes available with another department, they leave. That creates a revolving door.

Lansford Police Department currently has six full-time officers. Council budgeted for a seventh officer in 2019, but recently voted against filling the position.

Council passed a motion to allow for more advertising, possibly expanding into Hazleton and Pottsville.