Photo By Boyd Loving
PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING THE PROPOSED CONSOLIDATION OF THE BERGEN COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT INTO THE BERGEN COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT
MONDAY, JULY 23, 5 PM
NJ Tea Party Coalition
Eagle Forum of New Jersey
Carolee Adams, State President
MONDAY, JULY 23, 5 PM, ONE BERGEN COUNTY PLAZA, 5TH FLOOR, HACKENSACK, NEW JERSEY
OR CONTACT OUR 7 BERGEN COUNTY FREEHOLDERS
(CONTACT INFORMATION AT END)
The Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders will convene a second public hearing concerning the proposed consolidation of the Bergen County Police Department into the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office. Savings could amount to $17.7 Million by the third year of implementation. The first public hearing was aborted due to a protest regarding an unrelated matter. It has been reported that some Freeholders may seek to punt the decision to a “non-binding” public referendum this November.
Background:
In May 2011, the Bergen County Prosecutor ordered an independent, professional study of the subject officially titled: “The Bergen County Law Enforcement Consolidation Study.” The Study cost $623,000 and was paid by forfeiture funds/seized criminal funds from the Prosecutor’s Office. The Study offered 3 options, compacted here:
1.Reduce the size of the County Police
2.Initial reduction of the County Police, followed by a second reduction prior to a transfer of the remaining personnel, functions, etc. to the Sheriff’s Department
3. Eventual elimination of the County Police with a transfer of its key functions to the Sheriff’s Department to save $17.0 – $17.7 million per year by the third year of its implementation.
Here is the link to this 190+ page study by Guidepost Solutions LLC:
https://www.co.bergen.nj.us/bcresources/PDFs/Bergen%20Report%20Final%2005%2013%2011.pdf
Highly politicized within the Republican Party, itself, Bergen County Executive, Kathleen Donovan, who considered the elimination of the County Police as ill advised, formed her own task force, commonly known as the Creamer Taskforce, to counter the proposal. Its members, such as J. Fletcher Creamer, contractor; Maura DeNicola, Freeholder; Jeffrey Bader, Woodcliff Lake Councilman, issued its own 35-page report.
SOME CONSIDERATIONS
-Bergen County is one of only 2 NJ counties (Union is the other) with a county police.
-Over the past 20 years, Essex and Hudson counties have eliminated their county police and Middlesex dropped its parks’ police department.
-Reportedly, the bulk of the 2010 County Police calls for service occurred in Hackensack, Paramus, Teaneck, Englewood, and Mahwah – all representing relatively large police departments. In effect, the majority of Bergen County municipalities required minimal assistance, most local police departments patrol county roads in their communities, and numerous police chiefs interviewed for the study concluded that the County Police routine patrol function was not a primary benefit offered by the agency.
-The county patrols county parks and county facilities.
-It is suggested that critical public safety functions of the county police including, but not limited to SWAT; K-9; and Bomb Squad, can be effectively accomplished with consolidation into the Sheriff’s Department within a year.
SOME CONCERNS:
SAFETY-ALWAYS. In light of the horrific tragedy in Aurora, Colorado, and added public anxiety, continued public safety must ever be assured. In Aurora, the key law enforcement agencies involved are: local police; county Sheriff’s Department; and the FBI.
The Guidepost Study clearly states that this consolidation can be accomplished without jeopardizing public safety. The emphasis of the consolidation is to save on duplication in two areas: the patrol function with local towns and command structure.
INFORMED PUBLIC
If the Board of Freeholders decides to place this on a “non-binding” referendum in November, will the majority of the public be sufficiently informed to knowledgeably vote? This writer invested 40 hours to become better aware of the county’s role in law and public safety including the initial Guidepost Study presentation; the first public hearing; 16 hours covering 3 days of budget hearings of the County Police; the Prosecutor’s office; and the Sheriff’s Department* where I was the only member of the public to attend; and local public/private meetings and conversations. Shouldn’t the freeholders have all the information they need to vote NOW on the consolidation?
If the Board of Freeholders places this on a non-binding referendum, and the public passes it, will the current Freeholder Board act immediately to implement, or wait until a new Freeholder Board takes effect in 2013 despite changes that could occur post the November election?
FINANCIAL
Will the bulk of the $17+ million savings be returned to the taxpayers/municipalities after all the costs of the merger are deducted? If no, where will the funds be used?
CONCLUSION
It is important to develop your own informed opinion about this proposal. Also, discuss with your local Mayor and Council and encourage a representative to attend the hearing and contact the Freeholder Board, too. While Bergen County municipalities are concerned about a “cap”, the savings provided by the consolidation will help to safely and prudently meet local budgets and reduce taxation.
Importantly, the Sheriff has offered the Bergen County Police Chief a role of Chief within the consolidation. Further, due to approximately 70 upcoming retirements, it has been suggested no jobs will be lost.
When I attended the aforementioned Bergen County law and safety budget hearings, I was immensely impressed with the *presentation by the Sheriff’s Department. It ranked with some of the finest corporate budget presentations I have attended in the past. Top notch. Sheriff Saudino’s control of overtime, expense control, and knowledge of law enforcement appear outstanding. With that, I believe a consolidation into the Sheriff’s Department will not only be cost effective, but professional and with the utmost of safety awareness and implementation. And, as taxpayers, we must ensure that such an impression continues over time.
I join with State Senator Gerald Cardinale and Freeholder Candidate Peg Watkins to support this common sense consolidation. I believe our safety will be well upheld and continue to be modernized. Personally, I am an ardent advocate of law and order on all levels and fully respect, admire, and support the men and women in uniform who bravely and professionally provide for our safety and peace. I trust the resolution of this issue will be exemplary: safety wise, fiscally responsible, honorable, and reached within a similar peaceful environment that such law and order engenders.
WRITE/CALL/E-MAIL/FAX YOUR OPINION
BERGEN COUNTY BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS
ONE BERGEN COUNTY PLAZA, HACKENSACK, NJ 07601-7076
(Fax remains the same for all: 201.336.6290)
John D. Mitchell, Chairman – 201.336.6277 jmitchell@co.bergen.nj.us
John A. Felice, Vice Chairman – 201.336.6275 jfelice@co.bergen.nj.us
Maura R. DeNicola – 201.336.6276 mdenicola@co.bergen.nj.us
John Driscoll, Jr. – 201.336.6281 jdriscoll@co.bergen.nj.us
David L. Ganz – 201.336.6280 davidlganz@co.bergen.nj.us
Robert G. Hermansen – 201.336.6278 rghermansen@co.bergen.nj.us
Joan M. Voss – 201.336.6279 jvoss@co.bergen.nj.us