To further address the Caper (I’m going to refer to it as such) that resulted in the firing of an Allentown Police officer…
A few more details have come out today but not much of significance.
Thinking this through I had one more question.
“How did this guy get caught?”
Did his partner turn him in? Police doing what police do and reporting a crime. In my eyes the partner should have stopped him if he knew it was happening but that’s a different story.
Did the IronPig staff catch him red handed? “Hey YOU! You with the bulge in your pants pockets and blue lips!”
How did this police officer get caught stealing from Coca Cola Park?
Note – Kids, it’s not ok at all to steal. Don’t take that message from this.
Earlier today a friend sent over another possible answer to this question.
The IronPigs now watch you as you watch them. Reportedly these are located above the field level on each the first and third base side.
Interesting. Security cameras. Just like the Bethlehem Casino has all over the place.
We rarely hear of any crimes committed at CCP. There was a “rumor” of a knife attack near the picnic patio a couple years ago and a well publicized sexual assault in the parking lot during a rain delay.
Now I have a new question to wonder about today… Why cameras?
noisenation.mlblogs.com 
I was recently told by a fellow game day employee that the cameras in question film the batter from one side of the concourse and the pitcher from the other side. This film is available to make adjustments during the game. I don’t know that this is a true fact but apparently it is done in the majors and Coca Cola Park is one of the, if not the first, to do it in the minors.
Thanks Sharon! That’s very interesting. I didn’t think they were allowed to review game footage during a game. Maybe something new.
Is it just a coincidence that an Allentown Police Officer gets fired for being accused of taking 2 baseballs and an ice pop at Coca-Cola Park and shortly thereafter security cameras show up in the ballpark? Personally, I would think there are simpler ways to film a batter and/or pitcher than installing 360 degree pan/tilt/zoom security cameras that are probably at least 250 feet away from the pitcher and batter, especially after the Phillies were accused of stealing signs from opposing teams in the past several years. As Dan said, I didn’t think they were allowed to do that while a game is in progress.
I have heard the same – for game film purposes. Certainly I don’t look at them all the time but whenever I have they have never been pointed toward the crowd. Although, they are 360 degree PTZ (Pan, Tilt, Zoom) cameras and if you know anyone who needs video surveillance gimme a call! 🙂
Perhaps the video stored could clear my good name from the night when I almost got thrown out….
It wasn’t me. I didn’t do it. You’ve got the WRONG GUY! 😉
Whatever. I think it’s pretty sad that a cop’s reputation and career are going down the drain for two baseballs and a popsicle. Heck, I’d have bought the guy a popsicle and gotten him the two baseballs if I’d known he wanted them bad enough to break into CCP and steal them!
And yes, I’d also like to know why, if he was with his partner at the time, his partner didn’t do whatever was necessary to keep him on the straight and narrow. No police officer I’ve ever known would let his partner get into trouble like that unless he expected to get into the same trouble himself.
But having said that, City Council was right in dismissing this sad sack. As Council President Julio Guridy said, “It doesn’t matter if it’s two balls and an ice cream or a diamond ring. Police officers have to be held accountable above everyone else because they are supposed to enforce the law.”