Bergen County GOP organization poll: Voters favor county police merger
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2012 LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY OCTOBER 4, 2012, 12:42 AM
BY JOHN ENSSLIN
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD
A recent poll commissioned by the Bergen County Republican Organization has found that likely voters favor consolidating the County Police into the Sheriff’s Office by a better than 2-1 ratio.
The survey, which has a margin of error of 5.6 percent, found that 62 percent of the respondents strongly or somewhat agreed that consolidation of the County Police into the Sheriff’s office is a good idea that would save taxpayers millions without jeopardizing public safety.
That compares to 30 percent who strongly or somewhat agreed that police consolidation was a bad idea that would not likely yield meaningful savings and would jeopardize public safety. Another eight percent were undecided or declined to answer.
The poll also found that 52 percent of the respondents said they would more likely to vote for a freeholder candidate who supports consolidation versus 29 percent who said they would be less likely to vote for that candidate. Another 19 percent either were undecided or said it would have no impact on their vote.
The poll was conducted by Voter Survey Service through a scientific random telephone survey of 300 people between Sept. 20-22. The Record obtained a copy of the poll results this week.