A seasoned officer has officially taken over as leader of the Walnutport Police Department.

On a unanimous measure, borough council on Thursday approved a new contract for Chief of Police Jason Nothstein.

The contract, which goes into effect immediately, runs through the year 2027 and calls for $1 an hour salary increases in 2026 and 2027.

It calls for Nothstein to receive $36 an hour ($74,880 annually) in 2025; $37 an hour ($76,960 annually) in 2026, and $38 an hour ($79,040 annually) in 2027.

After the meeting, Councilwoman Jennifer Wentz said that Nothstein, who had been sergeant of the police department, had been making a salary under $74,000.

Nothstein was sworn in as new chief of police by Mayor Wayne Weidner.

Those in attendance on Nothstein’s behalf were his wife, Angela Nothstein; daughters, Kiara Englehart, Makayla Nothstein, Riley Nothstein, and Aliyah Nothstein; sons Dakota Snyder and Brady Nothstein; and Nothstein’s father, Drew Nothstein, along with friends and members of both the Walnutport Police Department and Lehigh Township Police Department.

Last month, borough council unanimously hired Nothstein as chief of police, pending his withdrawal from the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Walnutport Police Force Association and receiving a formal contract as chief of police with the borough.

Before that vote, Weidner said that Nothstein, who had been officer-in-charge, has done a phenomenal job and in his opinion earned the promotion.

Weidner noted that with the department having been short-staffed for some time, officers have been working around the clock.

Nothstein has been with the department for the past 26 years.

At borough council’s March meeting, resident Ron Bauer Jr. told council of his preference if council eventually decided to name a police chief to replace former police Chief Pete Wayda.

Bauer at that time strongly encouraged borough council to promote from within because he said they have a good group of guys.

Council appointed Nothstein as officer-in-charge effective June 29, 2024, after Wayda left.

Wayda used accumulated time from June 28 until his retirement in March.

Also at last month’s meeting, borough council agreed to hire Rafael Martinez and Tyler Todora-Cope as part-time officers at the rate of $29 an hour.

With their hirings, that will eventually give the department five full-time officers and two part-time officers.

In April, council unanimously agreed to hire Luis Garcia and Aung Tha as full-time officers.

Both will start at an annual salary of $53,414 for 2025, and were sworn in at that time by Weidner.

After that meeting, Nothstein noted the last time the department had five full-time officers was back in 2001.

Nothstein said Garcia finished the police academy, and started his training, while Tha will start the academy in July.

They will join Nothstein and patrol officers Scott Ledo and Nicholas Hartman.

In March, council agreed to allow sponsorship of a full-time police officer when one steps forward.

Nothstein said the cost to attend the Allentown Police Academy is $6,000.