Easton's Chief Takes Over Palmer's Police Department

Easton Police Chief Larry Palmer officially retired from the city's force Tuesday and will become Palmer Township's new chief.

In a 5-0 vote, the hired Palmer Tuesday night. Palmer was on Easton's force for 23 years, 13 as chief. His first day in the township will be April 2.

"I've been a resident of Palmer [Township] for more than 20 years" he said at the supervisor's meeting, "and I'm honored to now work in the community I call home.”

Palmer said he had met with Easton Mayor Sal Panto today to discuss his departure.

Palmer had taken an early retirement package in 2010, which mandated that he leave the job by the end of this year.

Panto said the chief kept him updated, and had made it clear he wanted to take the job in .

"They're getting a wonderful person, a wonderful professional," he said. 

Panto said he'd hold a news conference Wednesday afternoon to discuss the department's plan to replace the chief.

The department's current second in command is Capt. Carl Scalzo. The man Scalzo replaced – – had been considered the next in line for the chief's job before he left to take a job at Lafayette College.

submitted his letter of retirement to the board Jan. 23 after 41 years on the force. His last day as police chief will be April 1.

At the time of his retirement, Fretz was making $90,391 a year. The new chief’s salary will be $90,000, according to Township Manager Christopher Christman.

There were 27 applicants for the job, said Chairman David Colver, and that pool was quickly reduced to nine.

"There was a number of people from a number of states," Colver said, but after interviews, Palmer was offered the job.

The township had contracted with the Davison Group of Mechanicsburg, the same company that helped find the new township manager, to search for a new top cop.