“I think we need to go out and go to job fairs, and create a flyer, a one-pager, to handout at job fairs and say consider law enforcement,” Commissioner Luke Verdes provided as an example of a way for the township and police department to attract new officers to the force, during July 3 Bethlehem Township Commissioners meeting.

He also questioned certain practices, such as filling out the application form by hand, to modernize and adapt to current realities.

Commissioner De Ann L. Lawrence, who is in law enforcement, agreed with Verdes that new approaches must be looked at.

Board President John J. Merhottein reminded applying for any law enforcement position comprises many aspects, from physicals to background checks.

The basis of these discussions was the proposal to waive 60 college credits or having already gone through a police academy (Act 120 Certification) in order to apply. Township Manager Doug Bruce explained qualifications changes over the years, and the effect on qualified applicants to law enforcement.

The motion approving the changes to the Civil Service Rules and Regulations passed.

“To me, it’s very important that we have something that has a little bit more transparency about what’s going-on,” Verdes told the board during a public hearing on Ordinance 04-23 requiring the mandatory recusal of public officials in matters in which they hold a financial interest. Verdes was one of the key champions of having this type of ordinance for the township commissioners.

The Ordinance passed by a vote of 5-0.