Lansford’s mayor wants to equip borough police with new technology, but council members say staffing issues are the first priority.

“Equipment is great, but if we don’t have the officers working, the equipment won’t be worth it,” said council member John Turcmanovich.

License plate scanners have become a common piece of equipment for police departments, but they cost about $23,000 each. Mayor Hugh Vrablic told council during its meeting last week that he believes that giving Lansford Police the technology would get illegal vehicles off borough streets, and help with parking issues.

Vrablic says there are unregistered, uninsured cars sitting for long periods of time in parking spots which could be used by borough residents.

“It could improve quality of the town,” Vrablic said, adding that the fines that the device creates could help cover its cost.

Many local departments use the scanners. They include Lehighton, Tamaqua, Jim Thorpe and West Penn Township. Council member Jennifer Staines said she spoke to police in other towns who said they are a useful tool.

“It gathers information and keeps an eye on crime in the town,” she said.

Vrablic said that Summit Hill has found both scanners and body cameras useful.

Council members said that the borough needs to address its ongoing shortage of police officers before they invest in a scanner.

Council President Bruce Markovich said he would support the idea if the borough could find grant money, but added that the police don’t have a lot of free time to devote to using it.

“They’re telling us they’re too busy to take care of the complaints they’re getting now,” he said.

The department’s chief retired last month. Council is currently looking for full- and part-time police officers. They gave a new officer a raise because he has been covering extra shifts and helping to maintain local police coverage, while receiving 70 percent of a full-time officer’s pay - the amount established in the police contract.

“We have guys working double shifts and more, just to keep coverage, an officer on duty in the town,” Turcmanovich said.