In wake of efficiency study, a plan to cut 35-officer department by four
By: Rachel Silverman
In the aftermath of its $100,000 police efficiency study, the Princeton Township administration this week asked its 35-officer police force to slim down by four.
The move, announced Friday in an internal memo to police from township Mayor Phyllis Marchand, was sharply criticized by members of the Princeton Policemen’s Benevolent Association No. 130, which serves as the joint township-borough police union for non-ranking officers.
"It will affect not only the morale and future of our department, but also the services we provide," said union President Ben Gering, a patrolman in the department. "That number, coming at us, was kind of a shock."
Capt. Mark Emann, who is not part of the union, also foresaw a grave impact.
"We have to get beyond the trauma of going down to 31 officers," Capt. Emann said. "As much as we’d like to keep the staffing levels what they are … the Police Department is willing to work with the governing body to achieve the goal of savings to taxpayers."
The police study, which was unveiled in June, suggested that the municipality could save up to $3 million over five years by reducing its police staff.
Township Administrator Jim Pascale pointed to cost savings as the principal impetus for the cuts.
"When you look at the township budget, after debt service, the No. 1 line item in our budget is police salaries," Mr. Pascale said. "The township needs to do a top-to-bottom study of all of its expenses so we can rein in taxes."
The memo from Mayor Marchand to police personnel explained how the process would work. The township is offering a voluntary buyout package, through which officers would receive two weeks of pay for each year of completed service. The deal, which extends only through 5 p.m. Monday, includes benefits through the separation period.
The mayor’s letter also mentioned layoffs as an alternative.
"If the personnel objectives of the restructuring are not achieved by this voluntary program, the township may then proceed with a non-voluntary reduction in force in accordance with state law, or other available legal means," it read.
Mr. Pascale said he hoped such a scenario would be averted.
"We’re trying to do it all by attrition," he explained.
He said that of the four positions, one would be reserved for Chief Anthony Gaylord, who has been on a paid leave of absence since June. Another would go to an injured officer currently on disability leave. The two remaining positions are still under negotiation with senior officers, Mr. Pascale said.
A worst-case scenario would leave the department’s two most recent hires Christopher Best and Matt Solovay prone to layoffs. The two were hired in January.
Capt. Emann said he hoped layoffs could be avoided. "Attrition would be more palatable to the rank and file," he said. "Less painful."
Officers also expressed concern about reductions in programs.
"By cutting four officers, I don’t think we can keep the same services we have in the community," Officer Gering said, citing services including the DARE program, gang prevention unit, youth police academy and crime prevention surveys.
"I’m sure services will change," Capt. Emann agreed. "We’ll have to modify those services according to the number of officers we have."
Mr. Pascale responded that although "services and programs that are more icing on the cake will be impacted," day-to-day police operations would not be affected.
"The number of officers on the street shall remain the same," he said.
Opinions were also divided over the police study itself.
The study, conducted by Virginia-based consultant Carroll Buracker & Associates, followed an 18-week, top-to-bottom review of the department. Among other things, it concluded that seven positions one lieutenant, two sergeants, one detective and three officers could be eliminated from the force.
After discussions with ranking officers, however, the township decided to carry out only four of the seven recommended cuts, officials said.
According to Officer Gering, the basis for that decision is highly suspect.
"There’s a lot of inaccuracies and half-truths in that report," Officer Gering charged. "We don’t understand where he (Buracker) is getting these facts from."
Specifically, the patrolman cited what he said were an inflated police vehicle count and an unrealistic violent crime index. Officer Gering also said the report contained calculation errors in determining the number of investigative staff.
Mr. Pascale said the township would be open to hearing these criticisms, but that the four-officer reduction is "a management prerogative which is not negotiable."
The township administrator said of the police, "If they have concerns, they should let their commanding officers know. We do not want to close the door on the PBA."
Other residents criticized the timing of the decision to reduce the size of the police force, which came only days before Tuesday’s election.
Speaking from Conte’s restaurant on Witherspoon Street, where Republicans waited for the polls to close Tuesday evening, Township Committee candidate Tom Pyle condemned what he saw as "secret dealings" in Township Hall.
"Why, after the mayor in public promised public discussion, did she unilaterally cut the police?" he asked. "This is an example of the township trying to balance the budget on the backs of the police."
Mr. Pyle’s running mate, Gordon Bryant, also called the police cuts "very disturbing."
"I’m not sure what real savings would result," he said. "It’s another example of what I’ve seen where decisions are made and implemented without any public input."
Township officials said this view misinterprets the situation.
"If we were playing politics with the Police Department, we would have put it off until well after the election," said Township Committeeman Bernie Miller, who won re-election Tuesday.
Mr. Pascale agreed. "We don’t play politics in my office at all," he said.
Mr. Pascale said the decision was made behind closed doors due to the private, sensitive nature of the issues under discussion.
Though the Buracker report was submitted in public, a review subcommittee consisting of Mr. Miller, Mr. Pascale, Mayor Marchand, Capt. Emann, Lt. Bob Buchanan and Lt. Mike Henderson spent several months combing through its numerous recommendations.
In addition to staffing changes, Mr. Pascale said the committee plans to review police dispatching, as well as a number of operational issues in the department. The committee also plans to eliminate either a captain or lieutenant position, Mr. Pascale noted.

