Lansford Borough welcomed a new chief of police as 2024 began, filling the position left vacant since May 2022.

Kyle Woodward, a 21-year veteran of the Baltimore County Police Department in Maryland, signed on to lead the borough’s police department.

Woodward grew up in Tamaqua, where his father served as an officer and police chief for 30 years, and returned to the area after two decades in Maryland.

Upon returning, he assisted the Tamaqua Area School District with the formation of its police force.

Woodward, whose grandmother lived on West Snyder Avenue in Lansford, said he wanted to bring positive change to the area.

Since his hiring, the borough looked at renovating the former Silberline headquarters/office building along Dock Street for a new police station, which is currently in the borough hall basement.

The borough also upgraded the police force’s service weapons, computers, phones and security cameras, and purchased new vests and body cameras for officers and a new police vehicle.

The borough, however, has struggled with hiring more full-time officers as well as getting its civil service commission back up and running.

Council did agree to increase the part-time officer rate from $23 to $27 an hour, and hired two part-time officers.

Council did not act on a new police station, despite Woodward expressing concerns about officer safety and security.

The chief had also suggested that the lack of progress could be a reason why the borough wasn’t able to hire more officers, while neighboring departments increased their ranks and upgraded facilities.

Council rejected a motion to provide officers one-time retention bonuses, using funds allocated to the police department for community service.

The borough’s department had four full-time officers, including the chief, as the year came to a close.

Other departments

Slatington Borough Council accepted the resignation of police Chief Greg Winokur, effective Nov. 16.

In February 2023, council hired Winokur as new chief of police at a rate of $95,000 per year plus benefits.

Acting Police Chief William Borst will become chief after completing six months of probation.

Walnutport Borough Council appointed Sgt. Jason Nothstein as officer-in-charge, effective June 29.

That came after it was announced that police Chief Pete Wayda would be leaving the borough as of June 28.

Wayda, who said after June’s meeting that he isn’t planning to retire until March 2025, will use accumulated time after June 28.

Coaldale has been without a police chief since Joseph Krebs resigned from the position in September to take a job with the Tamaqua Police Department.

In November, borough council appointed Officer Michael Sniscak as the person in charge of the department, however, the duties did not come with a pay increase or the title of “officer in charge.”

Sniscak resigned from the department in December.

Terry Ahner and Jill Whalen contributed to this report.