Lansford Borough could soon have more police on the streets.

Councilwoman Michele Bartek, who heads the public safety committee, said Tuesday the borough received four applications for police officers - two full-time and two part-time.

“They are being vetted,” she said. “Once they’re vetted and everything comes out OK, then we’ll present names to council to vote on.”

The process usually takes several weeks, Bartek said, but she hopes to have one, maybe two, background checks done before council’s regular meeting next week.

The borough currently does not have an active civil service commission, Bartek said, and new members once appointed must go through training to serve, referring to a change in the law in 2019.

Some residents questioned hiring police officers without going through the civil service commission.

“You can hire without going through civil service?” Bob Silver asked.

Bartek said council can vote on the new hires without the commission, if the applicants are currently working as police officers elsewhere.

All of the potential new officers for the borough are currently officers in other communities, she said.

Council President Bruce Markovich said that he would like more information on hiring without civil service, and so did Councilman Joseph Butrie.

Bartek also reported that officer Callen Rich would be returning to work April 9. Council had approved heart and lung benefits for him in January.

Also, under public safety, Bartek reported that the new guns for the police officers have been ordered and will be coming in within the next two weeks.

Bartek also suggested upgrading the officers’ bullet-proof vests to a level three to protect them from rifle rounds and semi-automatic rifle rounds. She discussed two different weights that are available, and they could cost about $1,000 each.

“Give me a price on a life,” Butrie said. “No matter what the vest costs, give me a price on a life, especially one of our officers. You cannot put a price on a life.

“We have to do the best bang for the buck for our officers to protect them,” he said.

A grant is available to buy the vests, Bartek said, and she would like to apply for it.

“I just want to make sure that they are protected,” she said. “There’s a lot of equipment I’m going to be asking for in the next several months that we don’t have that we need for them.”