July 2,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Glen Rock NJ, on Facebook ,Glen Rock Mayor Bruce Packer reminds residents that no one is looking to stop you from exercising your free speech rights but these events cost taxpayers in police overtime and municipal services.
Packer said, “At the council work session this past Wednesday, some time was spent talking about rallies at Borough Hall, particularly the ‘Rally for Humanity’ that is occurring this evening at 7:30PM on the front steps of Borough Hall.
The entire council was in agreement that no local governing body should attempt to prevent residents from exercising their First Amendment rights by following the example of those who built this country by speaking out and rallying.
The point was made, though, that residents should know that there is a cost to all of us, as residents, when there are rallies such as this.
When a group of several hundred people gathers in one place, it is necessary to have a police presence and the police personnel that are present, do represent a cost to all of us. It is important to point out that ANY Borough event held in town, that requires police presence has that same cost.
We budget for police overtime each year with the expectation that there will be times when extra coverage is needed. Each year, the amount that is budgeted is determined based on an assessment of how many events are anticipated in the coming year where police overtime will be necessary as well as OTHER possible times when such a cost may be incurred.
As there was at least one grassroots rally at Borough Hall in 2017, this year’s budget was done with the knowledge that there is an increasing likelihood of gatherings that might necessitate a police presence.
While budgeting for overtime is never an exact science, we feel that we did a good job of covering our bases in this year’s budget and, as always, will continue to reassess as we move forward.”
Mayor your walk hand to hand with these people and now your worried about the cost.
The Ridgewood JOLT lunies posted pictures of that rally. Looked like a couple of dozen people at best. Just park a police cruiser around the corner and be done with it.
A Rally for Humanity requires police presence?
Perhaps in the future you could hire a private security firm to cut the cost. BRW how much Glen Rock PD overtime rate is nowadays?
if the govt doesn’t return our calls or listen to our voice of change – then groups have a need to gather and speak out. if you need to put police on it so be it – if you don’t want to, so be it as these are peaceful discussions. MLK didn’t need to pay for a permit and for police protection and pay for insurance – that’s not the First Amendment – is it
How about this every time there’s an event or some kind of special gathering the groups will hire private security firm. That’s all thank you watch the cops cry lose in overtime right Bros how about this every time there’s an event or some kind of special gathering the groups will hire private security firm. That’s all thank you watch the cops can’t lose in overtime right !
But we have to have these rallies. It’s the best way to keep me looking hip and cool to my friends on Facebook.
The police over time is ridiculous. I know when the village of Ridgewood be overtime budget must be up in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. We do not need to pay police $100 an hour on jobs for utility companies. They are not directing traffic at least 20 years ago public service had their own traffic control Workers that directed traffic at least. Give me a break. What a scam it’s a political scam and of story. Please any of your police officers do not come back with a comment please stop the bullshit please please.