Most of the taxpayers would like to see more police on foot patrol improving pedestrian crosswalk compliance and general community involvement at least in the dangerous business district .
They sit in these cacoon SUVs as part of their patrols but I agree we are paying too much
in taxes to not seek a more efficient use of our money on issues like overnight parking , and babysitting PSEG despite the per diem the town bills the utility while we the taxpayers fund their pensions and old plated
benefits .
The do a good job but in many ways we spend like drunken sailors in this town.Parking enforcement is fat on expenses too.
If they are sitting in their SUV they can run plates. Ordinarily, this is their most profitable activity.
Cops walking the beat is a nothing more than a “in the good old days” kind of image that we like to picture. In reality, and especially in the modern era, it’s simply impractical. Police patrols are required to cover large areas and be nimble whereby they can respond quickly to incidents.
Years ago we had “2 post” which was a walking patrolman on the avenue. Used to be cordially yours liquor store on the corner where Ridgewood coffee is. That post was also th driver for our single blue Cadillac ambulance who would get picked up by a squad car to drive the meat wagon as required.
It’s too bad today there is no cop on the beat. Today it’s called “community policing ” and it is lacking here in town.