The borough of Coaldale will soon have police coverage around the clock, thanks to a shared services agreement with Tamaqua.

On Tuesday, Tamaqua Borough Council voted unanimously to enter into a police services agreement with Coaldale.

Council also hired three officers, all of whom will be dedicated to Coaldale.

The actions follow months of discussions between the two municipalities, according to Tamaqua council President Brian Connely. And the unified force, Tamaqua police Chief Michael Hobbs said, will mean faster response times and more visible police presence for both communities.

“We’ve been going back and forth trying to put a plan together that obviously works for Coaldale but on the other side, it’s also going to work for Tamaqua,” Connely said.

He noted that it is not a merger and Tamaqua will not lose any coverage through the agreement.

“This is Tamaqua basically providing services to Coaldale,” Connely explained.

Coaldale has been without its own force since December. Since then, it has relied on Pennsylvania State Police for coverage. Shortly after its police department disbanded, Coaldale officials approached Tamaqua about a shared services agreement.

“There is no longer a Coaldale Police Department. We will be the law enforcement agency contractor for Coaldale borough,” Connely said.

The contract is for 5 years, and will pay Tamaqua every six months.

Borough Manager Kevin Steigerwalt said it will cost Coaldale $366,000 for the first year. He noted that the amount will increase “a little bit” each year to take into account cost of living and other expenses.

Rebuilding the Coaldale department would have cost close to $450,000, Coaldale officials had estimated.

While Tamaqua council gave its blessing, Coaldale must vote in the agreement at its 7 p.m. Tuesday meeting.

“We don’t have any real concerns of them not signing it,” Connely said. “We worked with them for a year now, meeting back and forth with their committee and our committee.”

Council also voted to hire Michael Hrebik, Timothy Walsh and Michael Sniscak as full-time officers to provide 24-hour, daily coverage to Coaldale. Their employment is contingent upon Coaldale’s approval.

Tamaqua Mayor Nathan Gerace administered oaths of office to Hrebik and Walsh. Sniscak, who previously worked for the Coaldale force, was hired as a part-time officer by Tamaqua in May.

Hobbs called the agreement a “smart, forward-thinking move” for both Tamaqua and Coaldale.

“By teaming up, we’re not just saving money — we’re building something stronger together,” Hobbs said. “Sharing manpower helps reduce costs by supporting one unified police department instead of duplicating efforts.”

He noted that expanding the Tamaqua department “means Coaldale gets the 24/7 coverage it deserves, and both communities benefit from faster response times and a more visible police presence.”

“With more officers on the ground, we can stay ahead of the small issues that matter — like ordinance enforcement and nuisance calls — and prevent them from growing into bigger problems,” Hobbs said. “This partnership is about smart policing, shared responsibility and making sure our residents feel safe, supported and proud of the communities we serve.”