Retirements May Not Spare Lower Police Layoffs

ERMA — Seven Lower Township police officers are likely to retire next year but that may not be enough to cover $400,000 the township administration wants to cut from the police budget since the officers are retiring between June and December.
The proposed budget cut is the result of a $1 million shortfall affecting Lower Township and municipalities statewide since Gov. Chris Christie enacted a 2 percent cap on property tax increases.
Chief Edward P. Donohue told the Herald, the police department eliminated a lieutenant and sergeant first class position last year. In addition, rank and file members of the Lower Township Police Benevolent Association (PBA) agreed to give up paid overtime pay beginning April 20, 2010 for the rest of the year, a savings of $228,250.
Donohue said the police department should at least maintain its current 41officers “in order to maintain and provide for the public’s safety.” In 1995, the department had 54 sworn officers. The first item to go could be school resource officers who would return to patrol duties, he said.
“I keep jumping through all these hoops as much as I can to maintain the officers on the street but eventually that’s going to go lower too,” he said.
If fewer officers were on patrol, they would not have the luxury of doing property checks or trying to mediate problems before they get out of hand but rather run from call to call, said Donohue. He stressed the police department is in danger of becoming “entirely reactive rather than proactive” as a result of downsizing through attrition.
Officers not replaced over the last two years: Ptl. Ted Nagel, SFC William Hienkel, Lt. Christopher Winter, Ptl. Charles Fitzmaurice and School Resource Officer Albert Flitcroft.
Donohue said the township has realized a savings of hundred of thousands of dollars in salaries and benefits from those retirements, yet there is still talk of possibly issuing layoff notices.
A police force below 41 officers, taking into consideration vacation and sick days, mandatory training days, injured on duty days and military obligations, would jeopardize response time for emergency calls and public safety in general, he said.
An October 2009 recommendation of maintaining at least a 44-member police department by Donohue was not acted on by the township.
Nearly the entire command staff is eligible to retire by the end of 2011:
• Sgt. David Adams, June 1, 2011.
• Det. Art Mason, Aug. 1, 2011.
• Cpl. Edward Dougherty: Dec. 31, 2011
• Cpl. Kevin Boyle, eligible to retire in 2011, date not submitted.
• Capt. Brian Marker, eligible 2011, date not submitted.
• Capt. Louis Russo, Nov. 1, 2011.
• Lt. Thomas Keywood, eligible 2011, date not submitted.
Donohue said the seven eligible to retire would save the township a significant amount to reach the requested reduction of $400,000 without requiring layoffs.
Donohue has announced his intention to retire after 26 years of service to Lower Township before the end of 2011. He offered a proposal to township administration that he would retire on or about July 1, 2011 if it would deter layoffs and assist with maintaining a sergeants position.
Capt. Russo has offered to serve as acting chief of police until December 2011 at his regular captain’s salary offering a six-month’s savings of about $63,000 toward the Chief of Police salary.
The township has proposed a future command staff consisting of a chief, one captain, one lieutenant and four sergeants. Donohue said under that proposal, the detective division would be left without a front line supervisor and the important position of an administrative supervisor when Capt. Marker’s position is eliminated.
He said Marker is responsible for overseeing the police communications center including the hiring of dispatchers, ordering all uniforms, vehicles and equipment and acting as supervisor for school resource, police chaplain program and acting as joint insurance liaison officer.
Donohue said he is recommending the township consider having a sergeant first class that would be responsible for supervising the detective division as well as dividing up Marker’s current responsibilities between the SFC. and the Executive Officer Captain. The SFC. position would receive the same pay as a regular sergeant.
The township would realize a monetary savings with new hires as they would be replacing senior officers who are at the top of the pay scale. New officers would enter the department at the bottom of the pay scale, he said.
During a Lower Township candidate’s debate Oct. 15, it was suggested the department hire additional Class II officers. The department currently has eight Class II officers and is permitted to hire up to 10, said Donohue.
He said Class II officers are employed only to assist the department and cannot be used as substitutes or to replace full time officers. Donohue said the police department needs additional full time officers to meet its demands over the next few years.
As an alternative to possible layoffs of full time officers, Donohue said the township should consider not using Class II officers in the off-season from November 1 through April 30 and diverting their salaries to full time officers for that time period.
He is requesting the $228,250 deleted from the budget to pay overtime be reinstated in 2011 in light of the department working with fewer officers due to anticipated retirements.
Mayor Michael Beck told the Herald two weeks ago, the retirements come too late because some officers are retiring in December 2011.
Lower Township Manager Kathy McPherson said existing police contracts need to be reopened in order for wage concessions to be made.