Hazleton City Police Department

Hazleton Police were called to 200 W. Broad St. for a report of a stolen vehicle at approximately 0836 AM today. At approximately 220 PM Hazleton Police observed the vehicle driving at a high rate of speed in the area of West Oak and Vine St. A traffic stop was conducted, and Xavier Gomez 34, was found to be driving the stolen vehicle. Shortly thereafter Police discovered that Gomez had just fled the scene of a Hit and Run Accident in the area of Green and Wyoming St. The... driver of the other vehicle was transported to LVHH for injuries sustained from the motor vehicle accident. Gomez was charged with the following crimes: Receiving Stolen Property (F3) Accidents involving Injury when operator is not properly licensed. Accidents involving attended vehicles or property. Driving while Suspended Open Container. Gomez was also found to have a warrant for failure to appear on Receiving Stolen Property Charges. He was transported to Luzerne County Correctional Facility.

The city of Hazleton wants to hire a half-dozen police officers and could have as many as three other police positions to fill if some members of the force decide to retire before the year ends, the police chief said. The city recently extended a deadline for accepting applications to April 26 with the hope of expanding the applicant pool, Police Chief Brian Schoonmaker said. The chief believes that a number of factors contributed to the low response, including public opinion... of law enforcement across the country and a large number of people collecting unemployment benefits. Between the climate toward law enforcement overall and right now with everybody being unemployed for the most part and still being paid to stay home, it is making it difficult to find candidates or anybody who truly wants to get involved working in the law enforcement field, Schoonmaker said. About 16 applicants responded since the deadline was extended. Tests will be administered May 8. We’re just not getting the applicants necessary to fill the spots, Mayor Jeff Cusat said. It’s a tough job, it’s a thankless job and Hazleton is a very busy city. When the city, currently with 40 full-time officers, increases that number to 42, officials could then use a $1.4 million COPS grant to pay for four additional officers, Schoonmaker said. Once we hit the 42 number, we can start drawing down for the next four hires, the chief said. (The grant) has to be used to hire new officers. The department could have additional positions to fill before the end of the year, as up to three officers are considering retirement. The starting salary for a patrol officer is $48,655.08, according to the city’s website. Officers are eligible for raises of 5% per year for seven years until they reach top level patrol officer pay. The base salary for top level officer in 2021 is $69,521.54. Applications and information about Civil Service testing are available at hazletoncity.org.

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR THE POSITION OF POLICE OFFICER Applications and additional information can be found at http://www.hazletoncity.org/Careers/ Application ...period will be open until April 26, 2021. THE HAZLETON POLICE DEPARTMENT REQUIRES active, intelligent men and women who are conscientious and possess the highest moral character and personal integrity. Police Officers work under undesirable and demanding conditions. Starting salary for Patrol Officer is $48,655.08 with annual 5% increases over 7 years to Top Level Patrol Officer. The 2021 current base salary for Top Level Officer is $69,521.54. The physical performance test for the position of Police Officer in the City of Hazleton will be conducted on Saturday, May 8th, 2021. The physical performance test will begin promptly at 0900hrs. The Hazleton Are School District Track Field located at 23rd and Lincoln Streets, Hazle Township, PA. Only those applicants successfully completing the physical performance test will be permitted to take the written examination. Applicants will be notified when they complete the physical performance test whether they have passed or failed the test. Those applicants who have passed the physical performance test may proceed to the written examination phase. No applicant will be permitted to take either test if they do not meet the basic requirements for eligibility as established by the Hazleton Police Civil Service Commission. Wear old clothes and bring sneakers. The written examination will be conducted on Saturday, May 8th, 2021 and will begin promptly at 1300hrs, at the Hazleton Fire Department South Side Station, 525 E. Broad Street, Hazleton, Pennsylvania 18201. Both parking for applicants and the location of the test are accessed via the rear of the building. All applicants who sit for and complete the written examination may proceed to the oral examination. The date of the oral examination will be announced at the time of the written examination, and they will be held at Hazleton City Hall, 40. North Church Street Hazleton, PA 18201. Only those applicants with a minimum score of 70% will be allowed to proceed through to the oral examination. After the completion of the oral examination, the Commission shall compile a list of all candidates who have successfully completed the preceding stages in the selection process. The list shall be comprised of the current eligible candidates for the position of probationary police officer. The number of candidates on the eligibility list may vary according to the needs of the department. A thorough background investigation will be conducted on those candidates. The successful candidates will be required to undergo a medical and psychological examination at a time and place designated by the Civil Service Commission at no cost to the candidate.

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Arrest made in the Craigs food Mart Robbery/Homicide.

ARMED WANTED FELONS APPREHENDED The Hazleton Police Department in coordination with the West Hazleton Police Department arrested one man and two juveniles during a traffic stop near the intersection of North James Street and West Spruce Street on Monday, January 11, 2021 at 3:18 PM. Dashaun Malik Murray, 24, of Freeland and a 17 year old male of Nanticoke were wanted on numerous felony and misdemeanor charges to include aggravated assault and robbery from a recent incident. ... There was also a warrant for the 17 year old male stemming from several felony firearms violations in early 2020. The second juvenile, a 14 year old male of Scranton, was wanted by Juvenile Probation. Narcotics Detectives observed the two wanted individuals occupying a vehicle traveling through the City. HPD Patrol Units, HPD Criminal Detectives, and a WHPD Patrol Unit responded to the area, stopped the vehicle, and took the three actors into custody without incident. Murray, a convicted felon, was found to be in possession of a handgun and charged with Possession of a Firearm Prohibited, Firearms Not to be Carried without a License, and Possession of a Weapon. The 14 year old male was found to be in possession of a Tec-9 with an obliterated serial number and a large capacity magazine. He was charged with Possessing a Firearm with Manufacturer Number Altered and Possession of a Firearm Prohibited. The 17 year old male was found to be in possession of pills, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. Pending charges include Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of a small amount of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Murray and the 17 year old were arraigned by District Justice Halesey and both were denied bail. The 14 year old was transported to Northampton County Juvenile Detention Facility.