Loss of Casino Funds Means 2 F/T Hellertown Police Officers Losing Jobs, Council President Says

The invalidation last year by the Pennsylvania courts of the landmark gaming law that provided for municipal host fees, and the failure of the state legislature to do anything to remedy the situation is the reason why two full-time Hellertown police officers are being laid off, borough council president Tom Rieger said Thursday.

The two affected officers are Nicholas Szmodis and Christopher Pfancook, who was promoted from part-time to full-time in August of last year.

“The current grant funds run out at month’s end and the full-time officers employed by that grant will be laid off,” Rieger said, adding that this was expected. “This was approved when the 2017 Budget was adopted in December 2016.”

“I must stress the actual man hours have NOT been reduced, as all shifts currently filled by full-time officers will be filled by part-time officers,” he said, adding that money is budgeted for that coverage. “This means the same amount of police coverage will be provided and will not change.”

Rieger stressed that the employment of the two full-time borough police officers has always been contingent on demonstrating impact from the casino and receiving grants from the Northampton County Gaming Revenue and Economic Redevelopment Authority.

“That casino law that provided the funding for these officers and associated host fees was invalidated by the PA court system last September and our PA legislature and governor have failed to act to correct the law. It’s that simple,” he said.

“Council has reached out and demanded action several times and I have personally been in contact with Representative Freeman this week to see if any action is taking place,” he added. “Without the grant funding Hellertown simply cannot absorb the cost of two full-time officers.”

Rieger called the situation involving the court’s invalidation of the gaming host fee law “very serious” and encouraged residents who are concerned about the loss of the full-time Hellertown officers to contact their legislators, including State Rep. Bob Freeman (D-136) and State Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-18).