Bethlehem Police Join Drug Trafficking Task Force

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Bethlehem City Council on Wednesday evening approved the Bethlehem Police Department to enter into an agreement to participate in a task force that identifies and investigates major drug trafficking activities and organizations in Pennsylvania.

The agreement between the BPD, the state, the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Bureau of Narcotics Investigation and Control allows the city’s police to participate in the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.

Enter the agreement will give the city’s police department the opportunity to benefit from resources and expertise, said Police Chief Michelle Kott. It would join local forces in Allentown and Upper Macungie and Palmer townships that have already signed up, Kott said.

Under the agreement, Kott would have control over individuals who will be appointed to the task force. These individuals will be vetted by the Attorney General’s Office before being accepted as members of the team. Task force membership requires additional part-time work for elected officials, resulting in overtime.

“The scope (of the task force) is very focused on drug trafficking and the movement of significant quantities of narcotics,” Kott explained.

Methamphetamines are of particular concern to the department, the chief said.

“Methamphetamine is a real problem in our community right now and I want our officers to focus on that,” Kott said. “We see it being handled at a high level, not only in the Lehigh Valley, but also in the city of Bethlehem.”

The city council, for its part, bombarded Kott with questions about the program and the department’s possible involvement.

Councilor Colleen Laird asked why the department had been approached to join the task force.

“I try to be humble, but we are the best,” Kott said. “Sorry, I’m very proud of our police department.”

Another reason for the city’s inclusion is its Spanish-speaking officers.

“(The task force) urgently needs Spanish-speaking officers for several details where individuals they communicate with only speak Spanish,” Kott said. “We have officers in the city that can help with those different tasks and activities.”

Councilor Rachel Leon asked for reassurance that the task force’s focus would be on high-level human traffickers and “not on anyone suffering from the burden of addiction.”

Kott emphasized that the task force focuses on large quantities of products that involve large amounts of money.

“Our proximity to New York and Philadelphia unfortunately puts us in a good position for a lot of medications coming in,” Kott said.

She also clarified that much of the officers’ work would focus on the mail that brings many drugs into the area.

“A lot of the details involve undercover operations and intelligence gathering,” Kott said.

Laird also asked that officers remain local for their work on the task force.

“We don’t have the staffing that would allow me to send officers across the state to Erie and other counties,” Kott responded. She said officers would focus on work between Allentown and Easton.

She also said the department can leave the agreement with 30 days’ notice if it is not satisfied. In addition, the department will “see something in return from the program,” whether it be training or equipment, Kott said.

Kott did say the agreement would lead to increased training, resources available to the force, intelligence gathering and sharing between local and state agencies, as well as the resources that come from such investigations by providing officers with valuable experience.