Hellertown Borough Council unanimously voted on Monday to appoint James Baitinger as the new police chief. Baitinger, who served as a police officer in Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County for 26 years, was sworn in by Hellertown’s mayor. During the announcement in council chambers, Baitinger expressed his honor and humility at being appointed the borough’s new chief. He pledged to not let down council and the borough of Hellertown, and expressed his excitement to lead the department forward. Baitinger also promised to work tirelessly to make a positive difference in the lives of the people they serve and the lives of their police officers. He emphasized his vision of building a stronger, safer, and more inclusive borough, outlining initiatives such as community partnerships, reducing crime, providing more training for police officers, and increasing transparency and accountability between the police and the public.
Previously, the borough had two interim officers-in-charge, Dominick Fragano and Michael Datillio, who assumed the position earlier this year. In January, the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association conducted a comprehensive review of the department, which revealed that the police department operated with an outdated police manual, excessive overtime use, a “lax” chain of command, and inadequate leadership training. It’s important to note that the borough sought the services of the Chiefs of Police Association after former Chief Robert Shupp resigned in October 2023 and was later charged with stealing more than $120,000 from the borough.
