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No Crime in Hazleton When ‘Cops’ Around

HAZLETON — The TV show “Cops” may be the cure for crime in Hazleton because it seems since the show’s cameras started following the city...
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HAZLETON -- The TV show "Cops" may be the cure for crime in Hazleton because it seems since the show's cameras started following the city's police, crime has come to a halt.

Yet there is still some concern about the show's presence in the city with a special council meeting planned for Tuesday night.

In the week since the TV show "Cops" has come to the city, it's been uncharacteristically quiet.

"Crime has been very quiet over the last seven to eight days," said Hazleton Mayor Jeff Cusat. "We've had a lot of noise complaints and small things, but there has been no violent crimes, no burglaries, no thefts."

The TV show signed an eight-week contract to film Hazleton police in action. Crews have been here for one week and while they have been out with officers every day, they haven't been able to get one minute of footage. It seems criminals are camera shy and crime has come to a halt.

"If this is what it takes, I'll keep them here all the time," the mayor added.

While the mayor signed off on "Cops" to showcase the city's police department, and as he describes it, give the community a virtual ride along with officers, city council is not quite on board now.

"We have some questions that we did not get answered," said Council president Jack Mundie.

Mundie says some people have come to him with concerns, mostly about liability, should anyone get hurt while filming.

While the mayor says a $1 million insurance policy, paid for by the show, is in the contract, council wants to see it for themselves.

"This is mainly an informational meeting to find out where we are at and to make sure we are protected," said Mundie.

The council president added that it's likely that a discussion will be had at the meeting on whether the show should continue filming.

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