Township Committee supports interviews
By:David Koch
MANSFIELD A request by Mansfield Township Police Chief James Humble to begin interviewing for two new police officers was supported by the Township Committee at its Sept. 26 meeting pending an inquiry by the Township Finance Office into the availability of funds for new hires.
The Township Committee allowed Chief Humble to begin a monthlong interview process, with eventual hiring by Nov. 1, if funds were available.
Currently, the Mansfield Township Police Department has seven full-time and two part-time officers.
Four officers are on duty during daytime hours and two are available at night.
During his monthly police report, Chief Humble said new state laws, an increasing township population, and the Sept. 11 bombing of the World Trade Center has burdened the Police Department.
"We’re getting more requests from agencies," said Chief Humble. "For the safety of the township residents, I think we need more manpower."
One of those requests is a list of individuals wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for questioning in relation to the World Trade Center bombing.
"With all this happening, I’m not looking for the agency to be the military, but we have five major highways in this town and we have to cover four of them," said Chief Humble.
Mansfield’s population also has increased by nearly 1,000 people since 1996 for a current total of 5,090. By the end of 2001, Mansfield’s population is expected to be between 5,200 to 5,400 people, said Chief Humble at the meeting.
Chief Humble said that from January to September of 2000, the Police Department received 2,700 calls. During the same eight-month period this year, the department received 4,000 calls.
A new state law passed in August, known as John’s Law, will further burdent the Police Department, said Chief Humble.
The new law requires police to impound the vehicle of any drunken driver for 12 hours. It also requires the Police Department to watch that driver for 12 hours if no one comes to release him.
"When you have two guys on a shift and one guy has to baby-sit, it’s a burden," Chief Humble said.
Committeeman Kelly Shea said he was supportive of the chief’s request for new police officers, but wanted to first hear from the township’s Finance Office before making a decision.
Each new officer could cost taxpayers as much as $33,000 a year plus benefits, said Chief Humble.
The Mansfield Police Department has applied for a COPS More Grant from the federal Department of Criminal Justice, which, if approved, could offset some of the costs for new officers.
Chief Humble said that if the grant is approved some time next year, the township would receive money retroactively, but that he didn’t know how much money.
Officials said they may make a final decision whether to hire two new officers at the Township Committee’s next workshop meeting Oct. 10.

