Lambertville, West Amwell, Delaware may create one regional department
Mayors of Lambertville and Delaware and West Amwell townships say they have launched formal discussions that could lead to the formation of the state’s first truly regionalized local police force.
The three communities each currently maintain their own police forces.
"The times of each municipality in New Jersey doing everything on its own are coming to an end," said Lambertville Mayor David DelVecchio in a press release Tuesday.
"We all must start realizing that the world doesn’t end at our own borders, and that we need broader approaches that will enhance the delivery of services and provide a better value to taxpayers," he said. "As I have said many times, in an emergency residents don’t care what the name on the side of the police car is so long as it shows up to help."
West Amwell Mayor George Fisher said, "From a public safety standpoint, working in partnership to ensure the security of our entire south county region makes just as much sense as patrolling our own municipal roads. From a financial standpoint, consolidating our forces can create a more sustainable force over the long run. These are both tangible benefits for residents."
Mayor Ken Novak of Delaware Township said, "Working together, we can create a police system that can be even better prepared, even faster to respond, and even stronger in our own communities. We each may be different, but we all share in the need for effective community policing. A regional police force can meet that need."
The mayors said that potential savings could be achieved and made sustainable over time through the consolidation and expanded cost-sharing of equipment purchases and elimination of duplicative administrative functions.
Also, by pooling regional resources, a consolidated force could be better positioned to make necessary technological and other upgrades that would ensure proper readiness and response, said a press release from the mayors.
The municipalities’ effort is supported by Freeholder Rob Walton, who leads the county governing body’s public safety and shared services committees, as well as County Prosecutor Anthony Kearns III.
Mr. Walton said he applauded the communities "for wanting to come together to do something that, quite simply, makes common sense. Just as the South Hunterdon school regionalization is creating a more efficient education system, a South Hunterdon regional police force can create a more efficient system for protecting the public. These talks have just begun in earnest, and there is still a long way to go, but the county stands firmly behind this effort."
Mr. Kearns said the county prosecutor’s office will lend its expertise and review any consolidation plan.
The mayors said they will soon undertake a formal feasibility study of the concept, which would create a greater understanding of future force needs and capacities.