Police Department asks Township Council to hire 10 more officers and to change the selection process for hiring.
By: Joseph Harvie
About 55 members of the South Brunswick Police Department asked the Township Council on Tuesday to hire 10 more officers over the next two years and change the hiring selection process.
PBA Local 166 and Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 51, which represent the rank-and-file and senior officers respectively, are asking for 10 officers to be hired over the next two years.
They also want changes in hiring requirements, including making active military duty equivalent to college credit and giving preference to those who have completed police academy training. They also are asking that the entrance exam be rescheduled.
Patrol Officer Martin Conte, PBA president, said there are 76 officers, about 10 below the FBI recommended level. The FBI recommends 2.6 officers per 1,000 residents. According to the 2000 Census, there are 33,400 South Brunswick residents.
Officer Conte said the PBA’s main concern is the officers’ safety. He said a lot of times there are only three patrol officers and one supervisor on duty, which is the minimum required by the township.
"A lot of times it forces us to stack calls," Officer Conte said. "One example is a domestic violence situation requires two officers, which leaves one officer and one sergeant on the road."
South Brunswick Police Sgt. Gary Luck, FOP president, said the department could lose at least 10 officers over the next two to three years due to retirement.
Because of the lack of men and women on duty, Sgt. Luck said command officers have to ask patrol officers to work overtime to provide minimum coverage.
He said this forces some members of the department to work 16-hour shifts, which is the maximum allowed.
Sgt. Luck said the department receives about 41,000 calls a year and more than 100 calls a day.
"Our men and women go out on more than 100 calls a day and our main concern is the officers’ safety," Sgt. Luck said. "A lot of times there is a long delay with little or no backup arriving at the scene."
The FOP and PBA also recommended that the Township Council change the application rules to allow candidates who have been through the police academy to be moved to the top of the candidate’s list.
"If they have to go through the academy, by the time they are trained it could be 18 months before they can go out on their own," Officer Conte said. "If they are already certified then they could be on the road in as few as six months."
The cost of sending an officer through the academy is about $2,000. He said hiring certified officers would cut this cost.
The PBA also asked the council to delay the next police exam, currently scheduled for April 23.
"The timing of the test appears ill-conceived as it takes place a month before most college semesters end and eliminates a larger pool of candidates," Officer Conte said.
Delaying the exam for one or two month allow more students to earn the 60 credits necessary to take the test, he said.
The unions also would like two years of active military service to be counted the same as 30 college credits. The township requires that an applicant have 60 college credits before taking the test.
"Many of our young people altered their plans after Sept. 11," Officer Conte said. "They chose to serve our country and their sacrifices should be commended. We believe four years of military service should equal the college requirement. Anything else would be an insult to these men and women."
Sgt. Luck said the FOP would like to see two years of active military service equal 30 college credits.
Township Manager Matt Watkins said he will schedule a meeting with both unions to discuss the recommendations.
Mayor Frank Gambatese said the Township Council will consider including money in this year’s budget for additional officers.
"We want to give the motions you brought before us serious consideration," Mayor Gambatese said.

