Jackson Police Chief responds to announcement of possible layoffs at township budget meeting
By Staff Report
By Phil Stilton
Photos by Dave Weiskopf
When news spread of potential layoffs within the Jackson Police Department after a published report in the Asbury Park Press last week, officers, friends, family and residents came together in support of saving the jobs of those who work to keep Jackson safe and clean on a daily basis, the police and public works departments. Residents also showed support for the Jackson Department of Public Works employees who would be affected, concerned that an already diminished service capacity would only serve to compact the problems the township currently faces in their ability to remove snow, pickup leaves, repair roads and conduct regular daily business.
While residents were concerned about the effect further cuts would have on township services, most were concerned about the potential diminishing of the police force’s capabilities. One of those concerned was Jackson Police Chief Matthew Kunz who spoke to the council about what a 30% reduction in force would translate to in terms of service to the community.
“The present ratio of Jackson Township police officers to residents is 1.4 officers per 1,000 residents. To put that in perspective. as per the New Jersey State Police, the Ocean County average is 2.0 municipal police officers per 1,000 residents and the State of New Jersey average is 2.5 municipal police officers per 1,000 residents.” Kunz said ”If this referendum does not pass, Jackson Township Police Department stands to be reduced by 23 officers to 56 total police officers, or 1.0 municipal police officer per 1,000 residents. That would not only represent a 30% reduction in force at present, but overall, a 38% reduction in force from our previous maximum staffing level in 2008. This would also likely make this township, Jackson Township, the lowest staffed, in terms of police service, in the county.”
In 2008, the Jackson Police Department had 90 police officers on duty. In the past 4 years, that number has been reduced to 79 through retirements and attrition, representing a 12% cut already to staffing within the police department. In the 2000 US Census, Jackson had 42,000 residents. As of last year’s census, the population of Jackson has increased to 56,000, an increase of 14,000 residents or a 32% increase in population over the 10 year period. The growth of Jackson has been felt at every level in town from the schools to recreation to road congestion, crime and other costs related to such a rapid expansion. Most of those fixed costs are a price the taxpayers will have to continue to pay despite the recent economic downturn.
However, this year the township is facing a financial crisis which could affect 30% of the township’s police officers. At Tuesday’s township budget meeting, Kunz said the Jackson police department has been making cuts for years, based on requests from the township administration. ”We have been consistently reducing costs consistent with the requests of the township administration. We have done so as the township continues to grow, and as demands on our services remain steady.” he said.
Kunz highlighted that in the past few years, several key programs within the department had been cut at the request of the township’s governing bodies including the elimination of the School Resource Officer program which supported numerous social, educational, instructional and interactive mentoring programs with students in Jackson’s High Schools and Middle Schools which he said help with fostering positive relationships between township students and law enforcement.
Other recently affected services from recent cuts included redeploying traffic safety officers to patrol coverage, reductions in investigative services and the elimination of numerous special enforcement programs including DUI checkpoints, anti-shoplifting and anti-burglary details and interaction in neighborhood watch programs.
The chief told the council the current staff is tremendously challenged in their ability to keep up with the current work and case loads. Should the budget referendum not pass and the chief is tasked by the mayor, business administrator and council to go forward with the proposed reduction in staff, there would be significant redeployment of personnel including the near elimination of both traffic safety and investigative policing. With fewer officers, the police might not be able to respond efficiently to property and non-violent crime calls, but focus only on the most serious of calls throughout the day as manpower permits. Kunz added that police may not be able to act as first responders in minor traffic accidents and residents would be required to do self reporting various minor incidents.
Other inconspicuous but important community service programs would be affected including DARE, child safety seat inspections and neighborhood watch assistance could suffer. “We would be destined to become a reactive, not proactive, municipal police service, and that may just be scratching the surface of the effects of such a reduction in force.” he said.
On Wednesday, April 27th, Jackson residents will have their opportunity to vote on this budget referendum which is the first time residents have had the ability to directly vote on the fate of a township municipal budget. “At this time I am calling on all township residents to come together, to recognize the significance of these proposed reductions in force, to support all the services that the community deserves, and to support the referendum.” he concluded.
Posted by Staff Report
on Apr 8 2011. Filed under Community News, Featured News, Jackson Fire & Safety, Jackson Police Blotter.
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