Monday, March 11, 2013
Due to a significant number of crashes in 2012—and two fatal accidents within 15 months— Palmer Township’s police department enrolled in a three-day vehicle collision investigation course.
Like every police department, Palmer Township deals with motor-vehicle accidents—everything from minor fender benders to traumatic fatal crashes. Due to the volume of crashes, Palmer Township’s police department joined Upper Nazareth Township and other area police departments in a three-day course: Fundamentals of On-Scene Vehicle Collision Investigation. The introductory-level training, given by the Institute for Law Enforcement Education, is “designed to provide law enforcement officers with the awareness and skill necessary to gather and document the physical evidence at the collision scene,” according to a flier provided to Patch. And, hopefully, better prepares officers for the more chilling scenes, said Upper Nazareth Officer Mark …
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Friday night fight took place at Bar-Don Lanes in Palmer Township, police said.
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Tuesday, February 26
A man is accused of punching his wife in the face inside a Palmer Township bar Friday night and then fleeing in his mother-in-law’s vehicle without permission, court records say. Police say the alleged assault by suspect Robert John Vandever, 32, of Easton occurred at Rip Van Winkles pub, which is at the Bar-Don Lanes, 3700 Nicholas St. Police arrived shortly after 11pm and were told a man fled in a green Jeep without the owner’s permission. Township Officer John Smoke says in a criminal complaint that he spoke to Stephanie Vandever, who said her husband just assaulted her inside the bar. Smoke saw a cut and bruising on her nose. “It was obvious she was struck in the face,” he said. Stephanie Vandever said her husband took the keys to her …
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Eight members of the Palmer Township Police Department fill out the township's Top 10 highest wage earners.
The news didn't come as any surprise to Palmer Township Police Chief Larry Palmer. Eight members of his police force were among the township's Top 10 highest paid employees and the chief wasn't even on the list because he started his job during 2012. "No not at all," Chief Palmer said. "That is about par for the course in most municipalities. Is it usually police -- and fire if there is a paid fire department." Leading the Top 10 was Sgt. Timothy Ruoff, who earned $109,640. Just short of six figures was Det. Lereneo Faasuamalie, who made $98,373. Breaking through the police ranks was Township Manager Christopher Christman, who came in third for 2012, earning $96,900. Sgt. Michael Nelson finished fourth with $92,634 earned. And Public …
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Palmer Township police discover backpack at Old Orchard Park Monday afternoon. Easton man arraigned on charges.
A man found by Palmer Township police sitting at a picnic table at Old Orchard Park Monday afternoon is a “known distributor” of marijuana and the subject of residents’ complaints, court records say. Michael Wayne Melise Jr., 20, of 134 E. Nesquehoning St., Easton, also had a “large amount” of marijuana on him and in a backpack that was on the picnic table, the records say. And when police asked him if he had any illegal substances or weapons on him, Melise said “just take me to jail” as he removed three baggies of marijuana from a sweatshirt pocket. Police also found $447 in cash on Melise. That was after he told them he was “homeless and jobless,” the records say. The total amount of the confiscated marijuana was in 19 small baggies, …
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Hayley Krauss, 15, of Palmer Township, missing since Thursday afternoon, is now home safely, Palmer police are reporting.
The Palmer Police Department has reported on its Facebook page that the missing 15-year-old township girl is now back home safe. Police did not offer any details about her whereabouts or how she returned home. PREVIOUSLY REPORTED: The family of a 15-year-old Palmer Township girl missing since Thursday afternoon is offering a reward. Kevin Arnold, father of Hayley Krauss, said the family is offering a $2,500 reward for her safe return, according to the Easton Express-Times. Palmer Township police issued a Missing Juvenile Report on the whereabouts of Hayley Krauss over the weekend. Police did not have any updates Monday on the case. If you have any information, please contact the Palmer Township Police Department at (610) 759-2200. WFMZ …
Thursday, January 24, 2013
The Palmer Township Police Department is auctioning off evidence and property in an online auction.
Do we have a bid? The Palmer Township Police Department is holding an auction, an online auction, to dispose of some evidence and property. But don't worry. There's nothing illegal about it, Police Chief Larry Palmer said. Sgt. Michael Vangelo told the Palmer Township Board of Supervisors about the online auction -- which can be found at propertyroom.com -- at a meeting last month. "It's cases that are no more use to us," Vangelo said. "The items are stored at the police department. Vangelo said that a service -- Property Room of Frederick, Md. -- approached the department about doing an online auction. The department splits the proceeds with the company 50-50, he said. "And they dispose of the rest free of charge if it doesn't sell," …
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Palmer Township officials say they have no interest in providing police coverage for Nazareth.
The sirens from Nazareth have fallen on deaf ears. Palmer Township officials answered the call regarding a proposal for its police department to provide coverage to Nazareth with a swift, stiff "no" at the Board of Supervisors meeting Monday night. Township Manager Christopher Christman said that he received and reviewed a proposal from Nazareth Monday for contracting police services. "My recommendation is that we will not consider this," Christman said. Nazareth Borough Council recently approved a motion to revisit contracting police services from a neighboring municipality. Nazareth wants an outside source to provide police services and was asking six municipalities -- including Palmer -- if they were interested. "It's cost prohibitive…
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Nazareth Borough Council is seeking Palmer Township, among others, for help with police coverage.
The news caught Palmer Township officials off guard Monday night. As the Palmer Township Board of Supervisors was meeting, Nazareth Borough Council was making a motion for contracting police services. And Palmer Township was on that list. "This is the first I'm hearing about it," Police Chief Larry Palmer said when shown a text message from Palmer/Forks Patch.com. Nazareth council approved a motion Monday to revisit contracting police services from a neighboring municipality. Nazareth wants an outside source to provide police services, and planned to ask six municipalities -- including Palmer -- to provide a proposal. "We haven't seen anything," Palmer Supervisors Chairman Dave Colver said following Monday's meeting. Upper Nazareth, …
Friday, November 30, 2012
Veteran Palmer Township police officer had blood-alcohol content four times legal limit.
A veteran Palmer Township police officer admitted to a night of beer drinking, but said she doesn’t remember what happened when the Jeep Wrangler she was driving slammed into a tree not far from her home, shearing off the tree completely and uprooting it. Court records also say the following about the Saturday night crash involving Susan E. Siegfried: --Her blood-alcohol content was 0.32 percent – four times the legal limit. --Two women who witnessed the crash found Siegfried with a bloodied face, stumbling in front of the Jeep, falling to the ground and repeatedly trying to stand back up as she kept stumbling. --Siegfried “continually” told a township officer who spoke to her after the crash, “I’m f----- up.” The officer said she had red…
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Palmer Township assists State Police in search of apartment Wednesday morning.
A drug raid of a Palmer Township apartment netted an arrest Wednesday, Palmer police said. Lt. Thomas Trinchere said Wednesday afternoon that authorities have a suspect in custody. He would not reveal the suspect's identity. It also wasn't known when the suspect would be arraigned. The raid took place just before 8 a.m. Wednesday at Gateway Terrace Apartments, Trinchere said. He stated that Palmer Township police assisted state police with the raid and that state police were handling the investigation. He said state police K-9 dogs, not Palmer Township's, were used in the raid. Trinchere said authorities confiscated drug paraphernalia and unknown amounts of cocaine and marijuana during the raid at 2163 Gateway Terrace, with the raid …
Niki Carr
10:29 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
What's really sad is there is one very important job that's missing from this list. Our fire commissioner. What's even sadder is the salary for that job is less than a starting full time police officer and doesn't even come close to those on the top 10 list. Last time I checked the fire commissioner's job is just as important and vital to our community as the police and other township employees … more ›