NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ - Mayor Robert Woodruff of Berkeley Heights and Mayor John Thoms of New Providence announced on July 20th that they are evaluating the feasibility of consolidating the police departments of the two towns. Within 24 hours, the PBAs of both towns came out against the merger of the police departments, guaranteeing that any possible consolidation will be controversial and difficult.

Mayor Thoms stated, "As elected officials, we have a responsibility to provide a superior level of municipal services at the lowest cost to our residents. Mayor Woodruff and I believe there may be such an opportunity by bringing our two police departments together. Further, with the new CAP limits, we are concerned about maintaining adequate staffing levels in both departments."

According to a statement issued by the two mayors, eliminating duplicity in management and supervisory positions may result in greater police coverage at less cost. For example, they said that a combined organization would need only one police chief and one person as the second in command.

Mayor Woodruff said "We are very pleased with the caliber of the officers working in our police departments and believe a combined agency would provide opportunities for development and advancement."

Both mayors said that no decisions or assumptions have been made and that if they were able to consolidate the departments, any reductions in the police force would occur because of attrition and not layoffs.

The mayors said that the exploratory group of Police Chiefs Anthony Buccelli and Dave Zager, Administrators Doug Marvin and Jack Conway and Union County Prosecutor’s Deputy Chief Greg Clay will continue to study feasibility, reporting to their governing bodies on a regular basis.

Responding to the mayors’ announcement, Berkeley Heights P.B.A. President William Ives told The Alternative Press, "Based on the information provided, the Berkeley Heights PBA is opposed to any plan whose purpose is to consolidate the two agencies."

He continued, "After reading the statements by both Mayors we have serious concerns about proposed staff reductions and the continuing ability of both agencies to provide the best Law Enforcement services to our communities. We are currently operating with two officers below our approved complement and New Providence is also operating below their approved complement."

Ives added, "While the Mayors indicate that staff reductions for a consolidated agency would come through attrition, and I am aware that the proposal is to reduce manpower by at least ten or eleven officers, it would take at least five years or more to accomplish this. Even the Union County Prosecutor came and spoke publicly to our Governing Body warning about manpower reductions in times like this."

He concluded, "A consolidation of this size has never been accomplished anywhere in the state of New Jersey or the nation as far as I know. The enormity of the task of dealing with two agencies with completely different organizational structures, union contracts and benefit packages and most importantly agency cultures makes this proposal unrealistic. In addition, I don’t believe that such a consolidation would benefit either community in terms of increasing the quality of service provided by either agency."

Andrew Diamond, President of the New Providence PBA, shared similar concerns with The Alternative Press. He said, "While the members of the New Providence PBA recognize the current economic forecast, based upon the information we have been provided, the New Providence PBA is opposed to the current merger plan that has been presented. The members of New Providence PBA have concerns about continuing to provide the level of service our residents deserve and currently receive, staff reductions, and the overall logistics of the merger."

He continued, "With both departments currently operating well below recommended staffing levels (New Providence Police Department is currently operating with 22 police officers, not 25 as reported) a consolidated police department under the current merger plan would continue to provide below recommended police coverage."

Diamond added, "A consolidated agency under the current plan would also diminish the services our agency provides to the residents of New Providence. Under the current plan there would only be one School Resource Officer to service 11 schools and one officer responsible for Traffic Safety of nearly 13 square miles. Patrol squads would be reduced to 7 officers which is a reduction from 8 officers currently. This reduction could increase response times and effect patrol coverage."

He concluded, "While we do understand that this merger plan is preliminary we believe that it currently is inadequate on numerous levels and would not allow the residents of either town to continue to receive the levels of service they deserve."

The Alternative Press contacted the police chiefs of both towns as well as several elected leaders in each town to discuss the mayors’ announcement and the reactions of the PBAs to the exploration of consolidating the police departments.

Berkeley Heights Councilwoman Elaine Perna told The Alternative Press, "I support the consideration and exploration of any idea that addresses property tax relief. I expect that those concerned with rising property taxes would applaud this study as a response to their concerns."  She continued, "I think that it is most important that both towns come to the table in good faith and focused on the best interest of both towns and police forces from a safety, economic, and fairness standpoint for the process to proceed." Regarding the Berkeley Heights PBA’s position, she replied, "[i]t is the position I expected."

New Providence Police Chief Anthony Buccelli told The Alternative Press, "I was asked to be part of the feasibility study. It’s very preliminary for me to make any determinations or assumptions because I don’t have all of the information. There are a lot of very intricate and delicate variables involved."