The Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA) is expected to announce its longawaited policing plan for the soon-to-bevacated fort property next month.
FMERA officials discussed the plan at the authority’s June 15 meeting, explaining that the expectation is for the fort to receive the same level of police protection when it closes in September as it currently does.
“We’ve been working in partnership with the state police as well as the Department of Homeland Security to develop the preparedness plan for the eventual movement of the Army in September,” explained Otis Jones, FMERA’s director of real estate development.
“Our hope is to have the same level of security that exists currently at the base in place and send a message to the bad guys that if they cross those gates, there will be policing to deal with.”
But the involvement of the New Jersey State Police drew criticism from Eatontown Mayor and FMERA board member Gerald Tarantolo. “The part that concerns me is the statement that the state police will give us the same kind of security that currently exists at Fort Monmouth. What that implies to me is that’s a 24/7 commitment,” Tarantolo said.
“We have already run into problems with a similar commitment by the state police where their response time in some cases had been 45 minutes to an hour for an event and our police essentially had to cover for the state police,” he explained.
“I’m not going to name the community, but we have had problems in the past.”
The state police currently provide police coverage for Shrewsbury Township, which is located adjacent to Eatontown.
“It is the commitment, 24/7, and the guarantee of an appropriate response time when the event occurs, I think, that is something that’s got to be clarified very clearly,” Tarantolo said.
FMERA Executive Director Bruce Steadman replied that the authority is working to ensure response times are kept low.
“That was on the table the first day we met with the state police, and they have guaranteed a response time that is acceptable,” he said.
“I can’t quote you the minutes, but it’s less than five right now.
“We’re expecting a draft policing plan the first week of July; it’s our expectation that you and your counterparts will be very happy with the response time,” Steadman said.
Tarantolo also questioned if FMERA would assist the fort’s three host towns of Eatontown, Oceanport and Tinton Falls with mutual aid assistance.
Fort Monmouth and the three host towns provide police, fire and first aid assistance to each other on an as-needed basis.
With the fort’s closure, representatives of the three towns have raised concerns over the loss of the fort’s portion of the mutual aid program. According to Steadman, the authority is “still working diligently on the fire and emergency services.”
“I hope to be able to give you feedback on that at the July meeting,” he said.
Tarantolo continued to push the issue, saying, “Time is running out.
“We are 90-plus days from when the lock goes on the gate, and we’ve got to come to some finality with these agreements.
“I don’t want to be in a position where we are down to the eleventh hour for us to make a decision. That could put us in a very awkward position,” he said.
“So the more rapidly that we resolve this and get the municipalities involved to some degree is in the best interest of everyone.”
Steadman went on to assure Tarantolo that the matter was being attended to.
“I can promise you that myself and the people working these issues 50 to 65 hours a week are making big progress, and I think in the next 30 to 45 days you are going to see some real big progress,” he said. Contact Daniel Howley at [email protected]