The departure of a full-time police officer has the Lehighton Borough Police Department in the hunt for a replacement.

Mayor Ryan Saunders announced at Monday’s borough council meeting that Justus Altmiller, who has served as a full-time officer for the past 2 ½ years, had left the police force to accept a police officer position with the Hazleton Police Department.

Saunders then thanked Altmiller for his service to the Lehighton force.

Earlier in the meeting, council accepted Altmiller’s letter of resignation.

It was announced that the borough would advertise for the full-time police officer position by Jan. 12, with the deadline to apply Jan. 30.

Borough police Chief Troy Abelovsky said they are waiving the $45 application fee for entry-level testing for police officer positions in 2026, and that they are still going to be offering the $2,000 sign-on bonus for entry level employees, whereby the individual has to complete one year of service, which will take them to the end of their probationary period.

Contractual salary ranges from $62,592 to $86,795 (based upon prior experience) through 2026.

“The immediate goal is to replace the position,” Abelovsky said after the meeting. “The goal is to be fully staffed by the end of the year.”

For the police department to be fully staffed, Abelovsky said that would require bringing on two additional full-time officers by year’s end.

Altmiller’s departure leaves the borough with 11 full-time officers.

In October, Robert Howard was sworn in as the department’s newest full-time police officer.

Police contract

Also on Monday, borough council heard from Abelovsky concerning shift differential for the police department.

The borough and the department entered into an agreement on June 6, 2022, for the period of Jan. 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2026.

A section of the agreement states that a shift differential of 2.5% of base salary per hour will be paid for any regularly scheduled shift that starts at or after 11 a.m. but before 7 p.m. A shift differential of 3% base salary per hour will be paid for any regularly scheduled shift that starts at or after 7 p.m. but before 7 a.m.

The addendum to the collective bargaining agreement will implement a change in times only and will become effective during the police department’s final contract year, 2026.

The section of the agreement is now amended to state that a shift differential of 2.5% of base salary per hour will be paid for any regularly scheduled shift that starts at or about 10 a.m. but before 6 p.m. A shift differential of 3% of base salary per hour will be paid for any regularly scheduled shift that starts at or after 6 p.m. but before 6 a.m.