Elizabeth Collins-Colón, the wife of township Police Chief Edgardo Colón, took center stage during the public comment period of the Sept. 6 Upper Macungie supervisors meeting.

She alleged the board was not acting in good faith where the police command staff contracts or work agreements - for the chief, deputy chief and lieutenants - were concerned.

Negotiations have been ongoing for a year, and little progress has occurred, she said.

The police chief recommended the force have a total complement of 34 officers based on the number of residents, industry and massive growth of the township.

During a telephone interview on Sept. 18, Collins-Colón told The Press one important point is the township has grown by at least 20 percent.

Chief Colón, during a telephone interview on Sept. 17, told The Press supervisors recently made the decision to not fill the deputy chief position.

He said the deputy chief is the accreditation manager, and noted the police force was accredited last year.

“The deputy chief position is critical and vital to the operation of the police department,” Colón said. “The accreditation status is critical to facilitate progressive and innovative training, and to maintain policies for the betterment of the police department and the community as a whole.”

Collins-Colón, also said during the supervisors’ meeting, police officers should have more and better equipment at their disposal.

During a telephone interview on Sept. 18, Collins-Colón explained what she meant by “more and better equipment.”

“Better equipment - specifically the issue is body cameras,” Collins-Colón said. “In the past, the chief has made requests in the township budgets for body cameras for all officers.

“The requests were denied by the board.”

She said if the police force is not up to standards, due to not receiving accreditation in the future, lesser qualified individuals would seek employment with the force.

“The point is the deputy chief handled accreditation within five years,” Collins-Colon said. “Without the deputy chief position, there will be no one to continue accreditation standards.”

During the supervisors’ meeting, Collins-Colón also noted a wage disparity between officers.

Supervisors made a few comments but her accusations were not rebutted. Supervisor Sean Gill said officers were aware of what their salary would be after coming over from the former Berks-Lehigh Police Force.

Chief Colón noted the police officers make the force what it is.

“I’m respectful the board and township manager will work with me to resolve these issues,” Colón told The Press.

In other matters at the meeting, Colón reported total calls for service by the police department in August were 1,005 with 510 traffic citations issued. The most reported crime was disturbing the peace with 17 reported followed by 13 DUI and 11 drug/alcohol. The K-9 unit performed one tracking and one explosives check assignment.

Motor Carrier Safety Program performed 49 inspections with 39 violations and one citation.

Driver Enforcement and education had 10 set-ups in August resulting in 188 citations issued.

Chief Colón noted the police department has received a grant of $19,000 from the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office for Project Lifesaver.

Project Lifesaver, a device worn by people with autism and dementia, helps police locate them if they wander.

During the fire department report, it was noted there were 85 fire inspections in August, making a year-to-date total of 607. Station 8 and Station 25 each responded to 57 emergency calls. Station 56 answered 69 calls.

Station 25 welcomed five new members and six new members joined Station 56.

September is National Emergency Preparedness Month. Get Prepared Parkland, presented by Upper Macungie, North Whitehall and South Whitehall townships, will be held 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 29 at Lone Lane Park.

Presentations will be given on CPR, gun safety, burglary prevention, car seat safety and more.

Trick or Treat night will be 6-8 p.m. Oct. 26. Rain date is Oct. 27.

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Editor’s note: Deb Palmieri contributed to this article.