The Salisbury Township Civil Service Commission has been tasked with drawing up eligibility lists to fill two positions in the Salisbury Township Police Department.

The newly-reorganized Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 to authorize the civil service commission to fill a vacant position on the township police force resulting from the resignation of an officer and also to fill a newly-created position for an officer on the force. Funds for the two officers’ salaries and benefits are included in the 2018 township budget.

Commissioner James Seagreaves made the motion to bring the authorization to a vote, seconded by Commissioner Rodney Conn.

Commissioners also voted 5-0 to authorize the civil service commission to test officers for two corporal positions in the township police department. Conn made the motion to bring the matter to a vote, seconded by Commissioners Vice President Debra Brinton.

Commissioners also voted 5-0 to return Police Officer Budd Frankenfield to the rank of patrol officer. Commissioner President Robert Martucci Jr. made the motion to bring the matter to a vote, seconded by Seagreaves.

The vote took place after an approximate 15-minute executive session.

Salisbury Township Police Chief Allen W. Stiles told a reporter for The Press following the Jan. 2 reorganization meeting when the brief agenda items were voted on that Frankenfield did not successfully complete the probation period for corporal.

In his report to the commissioners, Stiles said the township police department was commended by the City of Bethlehem police department for apprehending an armed homicide suspect Nov. 28, 2017.

According to Stiles, the suspect’s vehicle was stopped by Salisbury Township Police Sgt. Kevin Soberick, assisted by Salisbury Township Police Officer Noah Lopresti and Salisbury Township Police Officer Brian Zulic.

Stiles also said the township police department received a thank-you call from U.S. Senator Patrick Toomey during its recent Cops ‘n’ Coffee program. Toomey lauded the police department’s handling of the weekly protests outside the senator’s Cedar Crest Boulevard offices.

Stiles said the township police were thanked “for safe, friendly incident-free treatment of the protesters who show up every Tuesday.” Stiles said this attests positively to the comprehensive training of the township police department.

Stiles reported a police department 1990 truck which has been put out of service will be replaced by a 1995 truck being acquired from Western Salisbury Fire Department.