Lansford Mayor Hugh Vrablic requested hiring the borough’s officer-in-charge, Sgt. Shawn Nunemacher, as police chief ahead of borough council’s moving to start a search earlier this month.

Vrablic, unable to attend council’s committee meetings, sent a letter with the request to the borough’s public safety committee July 5, the day of council’s committee meetings and a week ahead of council’s regular meeting.

“Over the past year and a half, Sergeant Shawn Nunemacher … has stepped up as requested by council to the position of officer-in-charge,” he wrote. “He has been able to manage the department without noticeable change since the retirement of the chief.”

Vrablic also pointed out that Nunemacher has support from numerous people in the community, as evidenced at the June council meeting, and also has support from other law enforcement agencies, the district attorney’s office, the local magistrate and the citizens of the borough.

“Those citizens have spoken that they would like to have Sergeant Shawn Nunemacher promoted as their next chief,” he wrote, and requested council promote him.

“He is making a positive difference in a very complicated community, and I believe he will continue to do so in the position of chief in a stronger way that can only benefit our community and make it a safer place to live,” Vrablic wrote.

No one discussed the letter at either of council’s July meetings, even though committee members say they received it.

Likewise, council did not discuss a petition on change.org with more than 150 signatures last month supporting Nunemacher as police chief. The petition was not formally presented, as council would not entertain a motion to go off the agenda.

Vrablic, who came under fire when he reported on police activity and number of quality of life citations this month, told council that he couldn’t answer questions, because the borough didn’t have enough police officers.

Under Borough Code, council controls hiring police officers, buying equipment and setting a budget, while the mayor is tasked with supervising the police department.

Vrablic left the council meeting before members voted to spend $5,500 to have the state Chiefs of Police Association conduct a search for a new police chief.

However, the mayor said he gets little cooperation when he makes requests for the police department. Vrablic said he asked for a license plate reader, as well as body cameras for officers, and both got turned down.

The mayor also requested higher rates of pay for the officers, putting their wages on par with neighboring departments and to entice more potential officers to apply. This was also turned down, he said.

“They do not seem to understand the necessity of improving the police department to increase the overall quality and safety of life in this community,” Vrablic said in an email, noting that is not all of council voting against his suggestions.

“A few are concerned mostly with quality of life issues, involving high grass, excessive boxes and garbage out the day before,” he said. “We barely have enough officers to cover the burglaries, assaults, overdose calls another life-threatening emergencies.

“What are we supposed to do,” Vrablic asked. “Not go and stop a domestic abuse, and write tickets for high grass? Isn’t human life more important?”

Lansford’s police officers have been working without a contract since December and council has refused to negotiate with the police union, said Timothy Wuttke, trustee, Schuylkill-Carbon Lodge 13, Fraternal Order of Police.

“We requested to meet with them several times, and offered to meet with them as many times as needed to work out the contract,” he said.

The borough has taken the matter to arbitration, he said.