The Slatington Borough Council accepted the retirement of a second officer in a month during a special meeting this week.

Detective Timothy Wagner turned in his letter of resignation stating that he was retiring. He has been a full-time officer with the Slatington Police Department since 2001.

Wagner said in his letter, “I have enjoyed my years in Slatington Police and the various assignments I have served. It is time for me to explore new opportunities in a different direction and learn new things.”

His last day on the Slatington Police force will be Friday.

Wagner’s resignation follows that of Chief David Rachman, whose last day on the job was Jan. 22. Rachman also decided to retire. He had been with the Slatington Police Department since 2006 when he joined the force as the police chief. Prior to that, he worked in law enforcement in Allentown.

After Rachman’s resignation, the council appointed Sgt. Deron Dorward to take on the chief’s duties as a sergeant, not as an interim police chief.

With Wagner’s departure, the police force is left with four full-time police officers and three part-time officers on duty. One full-time officer is on an extended medical leave, and a part-time officer is on a temporary medical leave.

At Monday’s meeting, Sgt. David Alercia and Officer Michael Concilio, both from the Slatington Police Department, addressed the council before they went into an executive session to discuss personnel issues.

Alercia said he thinks Wagner should have been made interim police chief. He also said he hopes the council will hire a police chief who understands that working for a small police department means that the position is not just administrative. It is also as a working police chief, which means the chief has to go out on calls and patrols in addition to administrative duties.

Alercia also suggested that the council look into a mutual aid agreement with Walnutport, so that the officers are not working the shifts alone.

“We’re down to a skeleton crew, and guys are working crazy hours a day,” he said.

Alercia said he’s not suggesting creating a regional department, just a temporary assist, while they are without a chief.

“That’s a good suggestion. Thank you, Dave,” said council President Thomas Bartholomew.

Concilio said he was concerned about who the council might bring in as a part-time consultant to assist with police management duties. The person would need to have the qualifications and certifications to do the job. Not everyone in law enforcement has all of the qualifications.

After the executive session, the council officially accepted Wagner’s resignation with regrets, approved the job description for the police chief position prepared by the borough solicitor Edmund Healy, and created a committee to expedite the search for a new police chief.

The new internal resume review committee includes council members Ronald Kratzer, Kevin Steckel, council Vice President Bryon Reed, Mayor Jeralyn Schoch and borough Manager Dan Stevens. Council President Thomas Bartholomew said he would like for the new police chief to be selected by April or May.

The council tabled the idea of creating an external review committee, contacting potential members of that committee, and hiring a part-time consultant.