South Bound Brook police chief reports program is working well.
By: Jill Matthews
ROCKY HILL The interlocal police pilot program between Rocky Hill and South Bound Brook has received positive feedback from the South Bound Brook police chief, Rocky Hill Council members and most borough residents, and will likely continue under a new one-year contract currently under negotiation.
Though only in its honeymoon stage, the program is working well and accomplishing its overall mission of changing drivers’ attitudes, said South Bound Brook Chief Robert Verry at Tuesday night’s Borough Council meeting.
Chief Verry also said the program would start to more finely focus its efforts. Rather than just blanketing the town with police coverage, they will begin to focus on specific areas notably the four-way stop at the intersection of Princeton and Crescent avenues and strictly enforcing no-passing-on-right laws.
Questioned whether 50 hours of patrol time per month is sufficient, Chief Verry said he could not make a fair assessment of time allotment until his officers had been patrolling for an entire year. He explained that patterns in the way people drive change periodically through the year, and other factors, such as snow in the winter and a lack of school buses in the summer, also affect traffic patterns.
He said he has not received one complaint about the program from residents and added that his officers enjoy patrolling the borough because of the warm reception they often receive from residents.
Although no members of the public were present at the meeting, many of the township residents expressed their approval of the police-sharing program in phone interviews.
"It seems like they are doing a very good job," said Rocky Hill resident Joan McKeon. "Every time I am out I see police cars."
Anneliese Germain said she knows for sure that the police program is working because people coming off Route 206 are constantly pulled over by police right in front of her house on Washington Street. Despite this inconvenience, Ms. Germain, who is on the borough’s rescue squad, said she recognizes traffic calming is an important concern from a safety point of view.
"I think it’s a very community- and social-oriented town so people tend to walk," said Ms. Germain. "I think the police coverage helps and the town has done a tremendous job with their other traffic-calming efforts."
Other residents were just happy not to be pulled over by police officers.
"I never got stopped by them so I guess it’s good," said resident Doreen Solazzo, joking that she probably would not be as happy with the program if she had been pulled over by police.
The police program was enacted in September after a delay caused by concerns raised by Somerset County Prosecutor Wayne Forrest and Deputy Attorney General Dermot O’Grady.
Mr. O’Grady issued a six-page letter documenting his concerns and raising questions about several logistical problems, such as jurisdiction issues and the small size of South Bound Brook’s police force.
In response, Rocky Hill and South Bound Brook drew up a revised contract and began the interlocal pilot program. The program is currently limited to 50 hours a month and costs Rocky Hill $2,162 per month plus legal fees.
Last month, the program hit a bump in the road when Mayor Brian Nolan expressed concern over the township’s failure to fulfill its contractual obligation to share with South Bound Brook motor vehicle fines resulting from the police officers’ patrols. The borough is up to date on all other payments owed to South Bound Brook, including hourly salaries and money for time officers spend in court.
Residents who have complaints, questions or suggestions are encouraged to contact Chief Verry by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at (732) 356-0087.