Fair Haven Police Chief Darryl Breckenridge expressed reservations about the Patriot plan at a public hearing in Little Silver last month.
An all-out merger of police forces from Fair Haven, Little Silver and Rumson could save taxpayers $1.5 million in 2011 and $2 million in 2017, in part because they’re top-heavy with supervisors to a “striking” degree, the authors of a widely anticipated new study contend.
As expected, though, the Patriot Consulting Group, the governmental services advisory firm hired to explore the feasibility of a merger, does not recommend full regionalization of the peninsula departments for now.
Instead, it recommends a phased approach toward possible consolidation, adding that:
significant observation and recording of how law enforcement officers are deployed, how efficiently they operate while deployed and what functions they are forced to perform during deployment must be earnestly and honestly executed before such a regionalization can be fully assessed and implemented.
Still, the recommendation is likely to be the subject of spirited debate in all three towns as the mayors of each push for shared services to curtail soaring labor and benefits costs while their own police chiefs resist elements of even the limited approach.
At present, 46 officers provide police services to 19,244 residents of the three towns, the report says. Using averages for towns of similar size, the three departments are “overstaffed” by 38 percent based on combined population and 13 percent by land area, it contends — while cautioning that such metrics may not be “wholly appropriate gauges of proper staffing.”
More bluntly, the study finds all three departments top-heavy with supervisors, with a “striking” average of one per 2.5 officers under command, compared to a federal recommendation of one per four or five subordinates.
“Such use of command and senior supervisory officers is indicative of police agencies that cannot, or will not properly utilize or are otherwise not properly utilizing senior officers,” the report says. “Regardless of the actual reason for such use in the studied towns the fact remains that there is between 50 percent and 63 percent more supervisory, senior and command level officers than optimally required for the number of junior officers currently deployed that require supervision and command.”
A full combination of the departments could result in cost savings and better communications while adding “more than a half dozen new, task-specific, customer-service oriented, specialized teams” to departments that are now essentially patrol operations, the study concludes.
But because the towns collect call data differently, the study recommends that the departments first formalize existing, informal sharing agreements and, in the first year, begin to centralize personnel, equipment and tactics in the areas of communications, prisoner holding, criminal investigations, traffic, youth aid, purchasing and information technology.
From the report:
The “phased” approach would also allow time for both citizens and employees to acclimate to the new approach and would allow officers time to work with and get to know their colleagues from the other two communities, which would make the full regionalization to have a smaller impact on operations and community alike upon implementation.
If, after the initial period of combining a limited scope of services, a complete regionalization no longer seems prudent, all three individual agencies could be retained.
At the first public hearing on the issue in July, though, the police chiefs of the three towns were united, however, in opposition to giving up any of their officers for even the initial phase, saying to do so would wreak havoc on scheduling.
In addition, members of the forces turned out to critique various aspects of the proposal, while several residents demanded that any consolidation plan be put up for referendum.
No three towns in the history of New Jersey have ever combined their police forces, according to Patriot principal Brian J. Valentino.
A second hearing on the issue is scheduled for Monday at 7p at the Knollwood School in Fair Haven.
To download the Patriot report, click here: Download finalreport8-13-08.pdf
I wonder what time council member Peters (center seated) woke up after the meeting?
Sounds like a case of the "thin blue line" taking care of themsleves. I can't see why anyone wouldn't support (unless you're a cop) some kind of restructuring of the bloated managment to get it at least close to recomended federal guidlines and save some $$$ for taxpayers.
Hey Pasqule…can we hire Patriot to run a quick audit of Red Bank PD? I have a feeling that would be an interesting read.
Please — look at other areas of local government that are "Top Heavy" before taking away local community Police. There is too much at stake.
Officers in a regionalized force just cannot know the region as well as they know their communities and residents now.
This is a problem at many government agencies.
An employee is performing to expectations for many years. Employee reaches end of pay-grade. To make more $ a promotion is needed.
No position available? The old men refuse to retire? Create a new management position. Regardless whether it's needed.
BAAAAAAAAAAD. Sorry boys.
Need Police…the proposal isn’t recommending a regional force but a combination of resources such as administrative to reduce overall costs. Local patrols will remain LOCAL. I have been in favor of this all along but after seeing how top heavy our Police forces are…we need a change ASAP!
If this was happening in a private enterprise it would probably cause bankruptcy. There is no reason public departments can't follow the same simple principles of business and stop using our $$$ to fund their waste.
Question for Needed the Police — have you?
If your assumption is correct (and I dont believe it is) then how do newly hired officers ever learn the town and its residents?
My guess is they just do. They drive around, they are taught, they are introducted, they get out there and they learn.
We arent talking about a regional force that is 450 square miles with 4 million people. . . we are talking about three little identical towns with a few thousand people. Besides exactly how many residents do the cops really know? I have lived here for 20 years and I only know two of the cops by name. I wonder how many know me?
I also think it is important to understand that this is not the cops fault nor is this being done to seek retribution. It is what it is: a way to save money safely and reasonably.
An observation from an outsider:
A combined police force would be hot. Imagine how good the softball team would be!!! I think they should definitely go retro with the cherry on top of the car. Imagine a parade of them flying down the road when Mrs. Jones' cat get's stuck in the tree. And they need to get a boat like Crocket and Tubbs had in Miami Vice to protect the Dolphins and cut off Dr. Eatough's drug supply. You can give the keys to Breckenridge. If that does not shut him up, I don't know what will. The holding cell should be at Barnacle Bill's so we can all throw peanuts at those in custody, especially Red Bank residents who are caught with a plastic bags. A motto would kick ass. I like "Sona si Latine loqueris." (Honk if you know Latin) An ordinance on horn blowing would be a cash-cow. Holy Cross could have a Jesuits conference every year to sweeten the pot. It would be like shooting fish in a barrel. This has some real potential, but the "Patriot Plan" title is weak and it makes me think they will be tapping phone lines. Something like "Operation Peninsula Synergy" would be much stronger. I am going to the first season of Hill Street Blues to see if I can get some more ideas.
Mayberry RFD merging with Smallsville ….who's playing Goober?
If the consultant's report says that Police are Top Heavy, then why did Fair Haven just promote two BRAND NEW Sergeants on Monday night. Sounds like Fair Haven is trying to get most control over merger while Rumson and Little Silver residents are burdened with the expense. Rumson and Little Silver Taxpayers bailing out Fair Haven AGAIN!!! What a joke!!!!!
Ditch Waverly: Best. Comment. Ever.
My feeling is that most police will retain their pay grade if this ever happens. If their influence in a greater good is diminished then so what? I don't think the individual policeman cares about his title as much as his pay. I wouldn't . How much panache does it carry to be a sargent in a "mayberry" police department? Please folks if these numbers could prove out and be confirmed by another source this is a no brainer. Then we move it on to some other municipal services. This is the way the rest of the nation does it.
This is just another knee jerk reaction to create political headlines for aspiring local politians at the expense of local taxpayers. Mayer Halfacre is quoted the Asbury Park Press saying that it might at best save a taxpayer $247.00 a year in the year 2017. What will $247.00 be worth in 2017? Is that even worth the cost of jeopardizing public safety. Start cutting the services of Police in these towns and property values and tax appraisals will start to decline! Then what will you have? People move to these towns from all over for the services they receive. Start cutting that, and these towns will become another Union Beach, Hazlet or Sayerville.
Ironically, there is never any propsals to merge and consolidate local goverments. After all do we need 21 council members between 3 towns and 3 Borough Administrators at $160,000 a year? Maybe that's Top Heavy
Deep in my heart I know what the reason for this discussion is about. It is troubling when though out. People think they can get a pass on their legal infractions because of an affiliation (just get home safe Bob) with a local police force. Just like little Johnie or Janie, Achnad or Kyrania get a pass for infractions because the local schoolmaster has a relationship with a parent. This does not work anymore. We need to all live by the rules and trust a rationalised municipal group to allow us to feel safe and secure. This is a money thing and we simply can not afford the luxury of "affiliation" amongst equals anymore. We love everyone, we want all to succeed but at what price in NJ do we keep up this fools charade.
You want to cut some fat. The part-time recreation director in Rumson who blows up basketballs for a living makes $95,000 a year.
http://php.app.com/NJpublicemployees/details.php?recordID=21473
Three borough administrators and a bunch of self serving council members. Time for change! Start at the top. SCHOOLS! Look at that tax increase. There goes Halfacres .01 and the county .03 reduction. This is all a shell game. The roads still need fixin and the budget will definatly come up short this year. I see a .06 to .08 increase next year. Tater "08"
Five years ago the Borough Administrator of Rumson (who had served Rumson most of his life) retired making about 110k. The present Administator is making close to 160k? Court Systems in these towns could be regionalized in a matter of months. This cost savings approach may or may not benefit the Fair Haven Mayor, who is employed (by Councel appointment) in both Little Silver and Rumson as Municipal prosecutor. Hmm..MAYBERRY? maybe, but none of it has anything to do with the police.
everything has to start somewhere
3.67 years of service as Borough Administrator and look at this 2007 salary
http://php.app.com/NJpublicemployees/details.php?recordID=1052
Alicia is exactly right "It has to start somewhere". Lets get another study by a non aligned group. If similar results are found then it's time to move forward with implementation. Monmouth county politicians should grab onto this and run with it pragmatically. Time for all these one horse towns to begin living within their means. While the larger towns right size, after all how many detectives does red bank really need?
I would imagine that any stage of implementation is going to cost the towns money. Phase 1 alone is going to cost a few hundred thousand to start up. New computer systems for FH and LS to match the system in Rumson so the call data will be the same and can be studied as described by Patriot. How much is it to replace a station and police cars full of computers? Not cheap. A full merger would cost WAYYYYYY more. Matching uniforms, police cars, guns, etc, etc, etc. There's too much to list. That $1.5 million in savings will be much smaller with all of the deductions needed to implement this merger. Lets look at the salaries of some of these borough officials and merge them. Rumson Admin getting $160,000 annually. What the hell does that nerd do to deserve that after three years? Imagine what his salary will be in 22 years when he's ready to retire. Start with the easy savings and then move onto the police depts later.
Clearly you didnt read the report or do any independent research, Daisy.
The report stated that there are state grants for the implementation of this service that are 100% paid by the state–costing the towns NOTHING for implementation.
So, I went and checked and sure enough there is a pool of $30 million in state funding to implement these shared services.
But dont take my word for it. Go check it out on the state website.
Clearly YOU did you read the report. There is a POSSIBILITY of state Grants that MAY POSSIBLY cover the costs. As we know with the state, they also have no money with cutbacks so the MAY and POSSIBLE are wishful thinking. Which leads us back to the poor taxpayers paying for this poorly researched plan. On a second note, Grants are not Free money. Grants come from Taxes as well. So whether the 30 million comes from Grants or comes from local budgets, it's still at the cost of Taxpayers. This whole propsal is like buying a used car. You think you're saving $10,000, when you have to put $18,000 into it to keep it running!!!
Lets talk "Top Heavy", Presently the three police departments collectively have; 3-Chiefs, (No Captains) 5- Lieutenants and 7-Sergeants. Total of 15 command and front line supervisors combined (most of which also respond to calls in addition to supervision.
Patriot Merger TRPD calls for; 1- Administrative Officer (like an extra borough administrator 150k?) 1- Chief (who will make a lot more than he does now) 2 - Captains (who will most likely make what Chiefs do now) 3- Lieutenants and 7-Sergeants. Total of 14 command and front line supervisors. Hmmm very close in number aren't they. Oh by the way, because of the size of the department, most likely only the road Sergeants will regularly respond to calls. The plan may have some merit, but not because the departments are "Top Heavy".
"Ask" is totally right. Once they start adding Oceanport and Shrewsbury into the next phase, all the property that the "New TRPD" will inhereit from the Fort Closure, will cause a greater need for more Police Officers and Supervisors than is substantially higher than what each "single department" currently has. As a result this will be at a great burden to Rumson taxpayers, who will lose all of "Their" current police to protection answering shoplifting calls at The Grove or directing traffic on the weekends at Monmouth Park. Rumson has the lowest tax rate of all these towns, which is about half of what all these other towns currently assess their residents. How will Rumson Taxpayers benefit by paying for "their police" to patrol other neighborhoods. If I wanted to help contributing to Fair Haven, Little Silver,Shrewsbury, and Oceanport's higher tax rate I would have bought a home there. But if we all become one town, it's ulitmately the homeowner's like me that will suffer when their homes that they paid $1.5 million for are worth about $500,000 in the new "Two Rivers Township"
If we are serious about reducing taxes by combining municipal services in our peninsula towns of Fair Haven, Little Silver and Rumson we might reflect on this. Our three towns, with their artificial borders, have a total population of about 20,000 residents within an area of about 12 square miles. With our three Police Chiefs, three Borough Administrators and three heads of our DPWs we have an annual tax cost of about one million dollars to support these nine employees. Each of the departments these people head have employees performing many tasks duplicated by their counterparts in the other towns. No studies are needed to confirm that this is a perfect formula for waste and high local taxes. And being bright, hard-working men and women, each of these people and groups will oppose any effort to consolidate their towns or departments to keep their jobs. I would!
So, the only way this waste will be eliminated is for our political leaders to courageously move ahead to consolidate the services and assets of the three towns to serve their residents at a more reasonable cost.
And then they could move forward to help fix our wasteful school systems and administration. Good luck to them and to us!!
The 'assets' I referred to in my next to last paragraph were such things as police and DPW motor vehicles.