Walnutport hires new part-time officer

Walnutport Borough Council on Thursday welcomed a new part-time police officer into the fold.

Council hired Tyler Smith at its workshop session. Smith will work 32 hours per week and receive medical insurance.

Borough police Chief Pete Wayda said that Smith has been working as a part-time officer in Wilson Borough.

Wayda then gave Smith a ringing endorsement.

Smith was hired to fill the vacant part-time officer position that has existed since council in December promoted Nicholas Hartman to a full-time police officer.

Hartman was initially hired by the borough as a part-time officer in June 2015.

Council’s decision to bring Hartman on full-time came after it previously accepted the letter of resignation from police officer Dean Heffelfinger, effective Nov. 20.

Heffelfinger accepted a full-time position with the Lehigh Township Police Department.

He had been a full-time officer with Walnutport’s police department for the past three years.

Wage increase mulled

Also on Thursday, Wayda broached the idea of the borough’s part-time police officers getting a raise in salary.

“My part-time guys haven’t gotten a raise for two years now,” he said. “It’s hard to retain people.”

Council didn’t take any action on Wayda’s request.