The Mahoning Township Police Department will be expanding with a new full-time hire. James Danner, former Chief of Police for East Penn, was approved to fill the vacant officer position in Mahoning. Two officers were interviewed on Monday, Danner and Joel Gulla. To qualify, each applicant must have had at least 2,000 hours' worth of previous experience.

"We agreed on someone with 2,000 hours of experience so we wouldn't get someone fresh from the academy," said Police Chief Audie Mertz."I'm disappointed we didn't get any other applicants. I would have thought other part-time officers would have applied looking for full time. When you talk to people it seems to be a lot of part time looking for full time," said Chairman John Wieczorek."Well, Palmerton just advertised for a full-time officer and it'll be interesting to see how many people they get," said Supervisor Shawn Haggerty.Danner will begin his six-month probationary period after all paperwork is complete and equipment is handed out.Vice Chairman Franklin Ruch thanked the Orioles Club for its $1,000 donation for new benches installed in the police station along with the North Central Highway for donating two bar code scanners. The scanners are used for license and registration bar codes.The used medication drop-off box was moved to the downstairs of the township building to make room for the new benches in the office."We empty it every six months," Mertz said. The new location will make it easier for residents to drop off any unused or expired medications.Tarone Blocker, owner of Blockers Collision in Lehighton,asked the board why his business has not been called for towing services in over a year."I used to tow up to 60 percent, then 40, now nothing at all. There should be a list and a rotation of who the officers call. As a business owner and resident I'm not being treated fairly," he said.Wieczorek said he was unaware of a township tow list but would speak with Mertz about the issue."The chief told me it's up to the officers who to call to tow. I don't know any of the officers, and I have every right to tow as anyone else. There's a rotation in other townships. I'm not being called and I don't think it's right," said Blocker."In the six years I've been on the board we've never sat down and wrote a list for towing. Either people call their own or officers call," said supervisor Ruch."In 2014 I was called 100 times, and this year I haven't been called once.""Over the past year there hasn't been any change in the police force. We'll have to look into it," said Wieczorek.