Bergen freeholders adopt merger of County Police, Sheriff’s forces, but court challenge looms
Wednesday October 16, 2013, 9:32 PM
BY JOHN C. ENSSLIN
STAFF WRITER
The Record
The Bergen County Freeholders on Wednesday approved merging the County Police into the Sheriff’s Office as a cost-cutting measure, capping nearly five years of conflicting studies, contentious debate and one earlier failed merger attempt.
But the 5-1 vote adopting an ordinance that changes the police structure also opened the door to yet another legal battle between the board and County Executive Kathleen Donovan.
That much was evident when County Administrator Edward Trawinski warned the freeholders that approval of the merger would violate a court’s temporary restraining order Donovan obtained against the board last week.
Superior Court Judge Menelaos Toskos imposed the temporary halt to another freeholder-adopted ordinance that sought to re-write the county code. The rewrite explicitly gave the board the power to reorganize county government, as they are trying to do with the police merger. Donovan filled a lawsuit against the board contending they lack that power.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/Bergen_freeholders_set_to_vote_on_merge_of_County_Police_Sheriffs_forces.html#sthash.hCbwNC9w.dpuf
good, next is the local town,s. every town don’t need a police and fire dept. big town ;s yes. but not small towns like hohokus or waldwick..
if we don’t stop this real soon , what the hell is going to happen in 5 to 10 years. we can not keep spending a mill or more on a fire truck every time we go and buy one,it’s nut’s.
and for the police come on , talk about over paid. and when they can leave the job. time for new changes bro.
so true.