Lehighton’s police department is closer to being back to full staff now that a full-time officer has been added to its ranks.

Borough council on Monday hired Justus Altmiller, pending him passing the pre-employment process. Councilwoman Rebecca Worthy was absent.

Altmiller was hired at 75% of the base pay of $77,160, which is the current rate for a newly-hired full-time officer.

Sparich said that with the addition of Altmiller, including himself, the department would have 10 full-time police officers.

Afterward, police Chief Joe Sparich thanked council for hiring Altmiller as a full-time officer.

In a related matter, council on Monday updated the Police Civil Service List.

Last month, council after an executive session gave the department permission to hire three full-time officers from the civil service list.

At that time, Sparich thanked the civil service commission for conducting the process, as well as council for approving the eventual hires.

Sparich said it would be replacing officers that have left the department, and added that along with the-then three vacancies, there is another full-time officer set to retire next year.