Tiger Team Recommendations : Establish Dedicated Class of Police Officers for Traffic Control
Traffic control assignments (excluding PSE&G work) are treated are paid as “over-time” work and are allocated according to seniority. PSE&G assignments are paid according to an agreement with PSE&G, whereby the Village is paid $100/hour. Of this, $80 goes to the officer, $10 goes to the Village and $10 is allocated to vehicle maintenance. Traffic control at an intersection requires a sworn police officer.
However, many assignments, such as road-side work do not involve intersections and may not require sworn officers. Ridgewood does not currently employ Class II officers, who are “sworn” but, are not qualified to handle the all
And where do they suggest we get these extra police officers from? Ever officer should be doing traffic control when their not on calls. Those officer you see work for subcontractor are not being paid by the Village.
There is no shortage of people looking for these jobs. The point these people made is that it is inefficient to have higher cost officers earning OT or Holiday Pay to perform traffic control (not all traffic control is for external contractors).
I hate when they fill in for crossing guards. They have no sense of flow and usually cause backups near the schools.
I think that the parking enforcement and animal control people should be the first to fill in for crossing guards.Then maybe Parks and Rec.
The reason traffic slows down when a cop fills in for a crossing guard is the cop can stop traffic a crossing guard is not allowed to. This gets the kids across the street faser but slows down vehicular traffic. Which should be happening anyway but as a rule does not
The crossing guards move traffic and kids efficiently. May they should be the first pick if the town looks for paid traffic enforcement staff.
You are inncorrect crossing guards are not allowed to direct traffic only to start and stop it. Many drivers who disregard the crossing guards will stop when and officer is present(the fear of being summoned ) is in effect. The town already has paid parking enfocement staff. Special can only be used after all regular members of the dept. have been given a chance to work the detail..
#2 so what your saying is you could just hire any person off the street give him a traffic vest and say ok kid go do some traffic control. Better check the law and liability. Something the Tiger Team didn’t bother to investigate. What traffic control is eternal? You want a cop directing traffic or a fire scene or accident. The problem with the Mayor’s Tiger Team is the made these suggestion with check current traffic laws and court case. It all sounds good to the resident but the devil is in the details. another sham from our Mayor.
If I remember correctly didn’t the town used to have aux officers but they were disbanded because there too many problems with the officers? The probblem was statewide so much so the legislature passed a law that requires the specials and aux have to pass the same psyche test the regular cops do. the crossing guards in town do an exellent job under lousy conditions and many driver don’t show them the same respect, ( or fear ) they show a cop and drive right past the big red signs.