The North Catasauqua Police Department is hiring police officers in three new positions.

A part-time officer, Thomas Daniel Pinto, will become full-time pending the positive result of routine physical and psychological testing.

Two others, Vincent Morow and Corey Lolois, will also begin work in the borough police department in part-time positions.

The personnel decisions were given a vote of approval by the North Catasauqua Borough Council at its meeting last Tuesday, following an executive session at which personnel issues were discussed.

Civil Service Commission Chairman Michael Seng reported to his fellow-councilpersons that Pinto was the commission's recommended candidate following testing and interviewing that began in December.

More than 30 individuals had applied for the full-time position in November.

In other police news, the borough department will be getting new firearms, following a request by borough Police Chief Kim Moyer.

After discussion of selling the department's 12 pistols and replacing them with new firearms, the council approved the $5,628 purchase.

The borough will be reimbursed the selling price of the used pistols once that sale is made, bringing the net cost of the new guns down.

Also requested by Moyer was the purchase of a new car camera system for police cruisers at an estimated cost of $33,000. The system features a wireless download with USB backup and has its own server.

After discussion, council President Joseph Keglovits said additional information on the system would be needed. The council had seen a demonstration of another police camera system last year.

Solicitor William McCarthy weighed in on the type of camera system that could benefit the borough the most.

"I would like a camera that's always on, that's out of the officer's control," he said.

The borough has had multiple incidents in which officers turned off car cameras. Had those cameras been running, would have supplied valuable information in police personnel disputes.

McCarthy said problems with police officers "are costing us thousands of dollars."

Councilman Shawn McGinley suggested comparing the two camera systems before making a decision. It is believed the system demonstrated last year could not be turned off in the cruiser, while the system proposed by Moyer could be shut down by a patrolling officer.

Councilman William McGinley indicated he would approve only a system that could not be turned off by the officer.

"Why are we disputing it when we have lawsuit on top of lawsuit?" he said.

Moyer pointed out that only one litigation situation involved an officer turning off a camera, but said he agreed with the borough solicitor.

"Cameras are the best witnesses we have," he said.