Part-time police officers in Jim Thorpe Borough are getting a raise.

Council approved a $1 per hour increase in the starting wage on Thursday night meaning part-time officers will now get $16 per hour.The increase also applies to any existing officers who were making $15 per hour."We've had trouble keeping part-time officers in the past," Mayor Michael Sofranko said regarding the action. "The rate we paid them, $15 per hour, was the lowest in Carbon County."Even more money is on the table for part-time officers who work more than 500 hours in a year."They'll get a 75-cent per hour increase for every year they do that," Sofranko said. "We're going to max officers out at $20 per hour and right now we have one officer who would be earning the maximum."Lehighton has given part-time officers up to $20 per hour in the past and Summit Hill $18 per hour.Sofranko believes Thursday's increase better brings Jim Thorpe in line with surrounding communities and offers incentive for part-timers to take shifts."There was a situation recently on a Sunday where I had to go pick up the police chief at an IronPigs game because we couldn't get anyone for coverage," he added. "We don't want to get caught in those types of emergency situations."