Lower Police Chief Tells Chamber of Need for More Officers

TOWN BANK — At Lower Township Chamber of Commerce’s summer meeting, held Aug. 14 at Harpoon Henry’s, Lower Township Police Chief Edward Donohue delivered his annual appeal for more officers.
“The Lower Township Police Department’s calls for service are comparable with Middle Township Police Department’s calls for service, averaging 130 calls per day,” Donohue told the members, according to a release.
“However, the difference is that the Middle Township Police Department is answering those calls for service with a total of 52 sworn officers while Lower Township Police Department is answering calls with a total of just 46 sworn officers, while Lower Township maintains the highest population in Cape May County,” the chief added.
Donohue noted that three years ago, he submitted to Lower Township Committee to bring the department up to 50 sworn officers by 2010; adding “This is an election year, so please feel free to ask our elected officials and candidates what their position is on that proposal,” he said.
The chief extended thanks to the business community and residents for educating the public regarding the businesses and areas in Lower Township.
“People are starting to realize that all of these businesses are actually located in Lower Township, not Cape May or Wildwood Crest,” said Donohue.
Special Agent George Rogers of the Atlantic City office of the Secret Service also addressed the group. His attendance was arranged through his supervisor, Senior Agent Gregory Mayes, a member of the Cape May County Police Chief’s Association.
Rogers told the members, with the aid of a PowerPoint presentation, how to spot counterfeit money and how to spot security features embedded into legal currency.