BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Did a former Bethlehem right-to-know officer who’s facing drug charges illegally access police records?
Zach Cole-Borghi was terminated from his job at Bethlehem City Hall after he was charged in connection with a multi-state drug ring investigation.
But after hearing that Cole-Borghi may have been accessing Bethlehem police records without a right-to-know request, one city council member started asking questions.
At City Council, councilman Bryan Callahan brought the issue to the floor.
“I was told by three police officers in the city that they thought that Mr. Cole Borghi was going into the database,” Callahan said.
Cole-Borghi, who is also a Lehigh County commissioner, faces more than 100 charges that he allegedly did drug deals via text while at work at Bethlehem City Hall and the Lehigh County Government Center.
As part of his duties as a right-to-know officer, he had access to the police database.
In the council meeting, Bethlehem police chief Michelle Kott confirmed an investigation into the matter is underway.
“I know that Lehigh County is still working on their end of the investigation. And I know that Northampton County is looking into the access as well,” Kott said.
Callahan says previously, he sent letters to the Lehigh and Northampton County District Attorney’s asking for them to step in.
At the city council meeting, he asked Mayor William Reynolds when police and the administration found out an investigation began.
“A lot of that situation is all kind of under lock and key, especially now, while the investigation is going on and there’s potential litigation from the employee,” answered Reynolds.
Callahan says the Cole-Borghi charges are a black eye for the city and it’s important to learn exactly what happened.
“I think, I think the breach of the public trust and the police data and the police records needs to be asked, Did it happen? If it didn’t happen, then no harm and no foul. But I just wanted to make sure that it was something that was being looked into,” said Callahan.
69 News reached out to the Northampton County DA, Mayor William Reynolds and Chief Michelle Kott for official comment but did not hear back.
We spoke with Cole-Borghi’s attorney Gary Asteak who told us:
“We have not been notified about anything of an improper nature in regard to his position as a right to know officer,” said Asteak. “A councilman making an accusation during a council meeting is not worth responding to at this time.”
Cole-Borghi will be back in court the end of May on more than 100 drug related charges.
You can watch the full discussion on the City Of Bethlehem’s YouTube Channel.