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Judge hears arguments on Bergen County police merger referendum; expected to rule Friday
file Photo By Boyd Loving
Judge hears arguments on Bergen County police merger referendum; expected to rule Friday
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012
BY JAMES QUIRK
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD
Superior Court Judge Menelaos Toskos is expected to rule Friday on whether the freeholder board can proceed with a non-binding referendum to merge the Bergen County Police with the Sheriff’s Office and with the second reading of an ordinance that would dissolve the 89-member department.
Superior Court Judge Menelaos Toskos during arguments in the Bergen County police merger case.
If Toskos allows both measures, a referendum asking voters whether the county police will be on the November ballot and the ordinance could be on the agenda of the freeholders next meeting, scheduled for Sept. 12. If approved, the county police could be dissolved by the end of the year.
The fate of the county police has touched off a bitter political struggle in Bergen County, one that has fractured the Republican Party and has been seized upon as campaign fodder for politicians. Last month, Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan, a vocal supporter of the county police, sued to prevent the freeholders from moving forward with either initiative.
http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergen/county_police.html
