The borough has added two part-time police officers as well as two part-time meter enforcement officers.
By: Linda Seida
NEW HOPE The Borough Council has approved the addition of two part-time police officers.
Robert Garrett, 29, is a resident of Levittown, who formerly worked as a dispatcher for Northampton Township. Dawn Harrison, 35, is a resident of Pipersville, who formerly worked as an officer in Doylestown.
The council also added two part-time meter enforcement officers, who also were hired April 8. Jacques Alschech is a New Hope resident, while Patricia Villareale just moved to New Hope after working for a police department in Nassau County, N.Y.
The new hires approved April 8 bring the total number of part-time police officers to five. The department also has seven full-time officers.
The new officers will work weekends mainly, with a pay rate of $14.30 per hour. The part-time meter enforcement officers will start at a pay rate of $12 per hour.
"They will enhance the bicycle patrol and the walking patrols," police Chief Rick Pasqualini said.
The hiring of more officers is necessary to bring the department’s manpower up to the level it was before four part-time officers left the department last year, Chief Pasqualini said.
"To a large extent, this agency is a training ground," he said, adding officers have the opportunity to handle a variety of different calls in the borough.
"The diversity of this community is unbelievable. We attract so many different types of groups," the chief said.
He noted there are families, motorcycle groups and young single artists, to name just a few.
"We draw a diverse group, and we police with a diverse group," he said.

