Freeholders Vote to Dissolve Bergen County Police
County official vows legal challenge as effort to disband police department moves forward.
The Bergen County Freeholders took the first steps Friday in disbanding the county’s police force and merging it with the sheriff’s office in a move that could be met with litigation from the county administration.
The freeholders voted to put a non-binding referendum on the November ballot asking the public’s opinion on having the sheriff's office absorb the county police department. In another move, the board voted to approve an ordinance dissolving the county police force.
Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan, an opponent of a merger and a referendum, would not enforce the ordinance and would likely challenge the moves in court.
“The county executive has said that she will not enforce this ordinance because this ordinance is illegal," County Administrator Ed Trawinski told the board. “Until the Supreme Court of New Jersey tells the county executive that she has to implement this ordinance I am making it crystal clear she will not."
The board’s vote came at a first reading, meaning freeholders will take another vote on the issue. No date has been set for a public hearing on the ordinance to dissolve the department.
Freeholders David Ganz, Joan Voss, John Mitchell and John Felice voted for the two measures. Freeholders Maura DeNicola and Robert Hermansen opposed the moves.
DeNicola and Hermansen walked out of a meeting last week when the issue was put on the agenda minutes before the meeting started. The pair have been critical of what they have claimed was a backroom political deal to eliminate the county police.
“Public safety should never be used as a political football,” Hermansen said.
The board should consider all options for cost savings and not be stuck at the sole option of dissolving the police department, Hermansen said. The public, he said, should have been given various choices on the issue.
"This is not about the referendum, this is not about walking out of a meeting, this is about the process," he said.
DeNicola said the merger lacked specifics, including a financial analysis.
Ganz and Voss said they would begin a "listening tour" around Bergen County to gauge the public's view on the issue. An effort by Ganz to delay a second reading on the ordinance disbanding the force until after the November election was rejected.
Mark Butler, a Ridgewood police officer and Bergen County PBA representative, said residents benefited from the range of law enforcement agencies serving the county.
“The fact that two conflicting studies exist on the county police and the sheriff’s departments should give the freeholders pause,” Butler said in reading a statement from New Jersey PBA President Anthony Wieners. A study by Guidepost Solutions, commissioned by the prosecutor's office, recommended eliminating the county poilce while a committee formed by Donovan disagreed.
Carolee Adams, of Montvale, said she supported dissolving the county force.
"The county police itself does appear to be superfluous," she said. "With the county budget the way it is, this is one major cost saved."
Opponents of the merger have said disbanding the county police would put the burden of special services, including the K-9 unit and SWAT team, on local police departments. Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli, however, has issued a letter to police chiefs saying it was never suggested that providing these services would fall on local departments.
Legal Notice
8:01 pm on Friday, August 10, 2012
about time. Vote Hermansen and Denicola , Donovan and Trawinski OUT OF OFFICE
WE CANT AFFORD THEM
Katers
8:08 pm on Friday, August 10, 2012
They were the only ones making sense at the meeting, but of course everyone needed legal council before speaking
Katers
8:15 pm on Friday, August 10, 2012
I have a good picture of a senator at the meeting sleeping, guess he didn't have much to say in public, he prefers emails though
Gabriel Francis
2:13 pm on Monday, September 10, 2012
He wasn't sleeping---he was dead but to stupid to fall over !
William Mays
4:52 pm on Monday, September 10, 2012
Maybe he just thought that the bullshit that the freeholders always spew was too boring, I would too.
The Stig
9:06 pm on Friday, August 10, 2012
Gee, a member of the Police Union advocating more police departments with more members paying more dues. What a shock.
Every other county in the state has one countywide policing force, why is Bergen so special, other than the fact that the County Executive wants to keep her pet (the head of the county PD is under her control the Sheriff is not) in his cushy job?
The Freeloaders who opposed this action should be voted out as soon as humanly possible. Instead of trying to block this, they should working to make it happen and save taxpayers real $$$$.
Dave Tait
9:33 pm on Friday, August 10, 2012
Mever understood why the county needs two law enforcement agencies. About time.
No One
9:38 pm on Friday, August 10, 2012
At the very very least the police forces should be consolidated, at least some good will come out of this poor decision.
Joanna Hafner
10:08 pm on Friday, August 10, 2012
Its about time we don't need the County police department I also think we should also get ride of the sheriff’s department they are both a waste of our money we only need the state police and the individual towns police departments.
Jack B Goode
10:21 pm on Friday, August 10, 2012
Great idea, who will guard the prisoners and keep order in the court rooms?
Tommy P
10:15 am on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
The state already does this. Many towns are also setup to do this.
Joanna Hafner
11:39 pm on Friday, August 10, 2012
The department of corrections and the local police departments
The Stig
12:58 am on Saturday, August 11, 2012
Wonderful, the department formerly headed by Charles "Ken" Zisa . . the foxes guarding the hen house.
John Q. Public
7:32 am on Saturday, August 11, 2012
So Hackensack will pick up all the slack from the Sheriff's Office?
William Mays
5:46 am on Saturday, August 11, 2012
Good, enough wasting money.
John Q Taxpayer
8:56 am on Saturday, August 11, 2012
COWARDS! Why is the vote non-binding?
Lisa Buonomo
9:35 am on Saturday, August 11, 2012
I have to say one VERY POSITIVE STATEMENT about the Bergen County Police, they REALLY KEPT THE BERGEN COUNTY PARKS SAFE!!!! I don't know about any of you, but I NEVER saw a Sheriffs Dept. Car even near either of the Overpeck Parks, or Van Saun Park policing the area, have you?
I have nothing but positive thoughts of the Bergen County Police, there job is more localized. Give them a break, stop being so critical.
Do you understand also, that now more people will be jobless also, is that what you critical people want?
Understanding that DOWNSIZING MAY BE NECESSARY, JOB LOSS IS UNPREVENTABLE!
You critical ones are UNBELIEVABLE!!!
The Stig
1:16 am on Sunday, August 12, 2012
The Sheriff's department isn't tasked with "protecting" the public parks.
J.C. Lee
9:47 am on Saturday, August 11, 2012
My prediction is that we are in for a long political battle which will yield no actual savings for the taxpayer regardless of what side of this prevails. This is not about what will provide for the best interest of the people it is about political interests and power. The only financial benefit will go to the politically connected law firms who will do the bidding of their masters in yet another expensive legal farce. Masters who have failed to negotiate on half of those the represent. For it is not the people they represent, it is the politics they represent. The politics which have been far too costly to the taxpayer, not the county police or whatever the pawn of debate may be in any future situation.
Marc D
4:36 pm on Sunday, August 12, 2012
Well said me Lee!. Anyone who thinks this will save us money is being very foolish.
Tommy P
10:16 am on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
That is exactly why the referendum is non-binding. Well said.
Flygrl
10:06 am on Saturday, August 11, 2012
A long time resident of Bergen County and family in the police force, I think it's time to dissolve Bergen County Police. I also agree if there is anyway that there be consolidation as to somehow continue the jobs of our Bergen County finest? All police Dept's have tough jobs but changes have to be made with the financial debt our Counties and local government are incurring. I think it time to dissolve.
Ally Shuster Shea
2:48 pm on Saturday, August 11, 2012
With chief Higgins family members giving contributions to Donovan, that is the reason the bcpd should be disbanded and Higgins to be fired. It's so corrupt the Bergen republicans........ It's stealing from taxpayers that the Bergen county police chief makes $195000k. Thanks to him, 90 officers will lose their careers
Carter Morris, Sr.
10:20 am on Saturday, August 11, 2012
The County Police do a far more important job than the Sheriffs Dept.
Among other things, the excellently trained bomb squad, CERT, and a myriad of other public safety roles that the Sheriff's office is unequipped to do. The Sheriff basically runs the jail and the courthouse. The Bergen County Police has a Water Search and Recovery Team (SCUBA), a Bomb Squad, a Barricaded Subject and Hostage Negotiations team (SWAT), and a Traffic Safety Division. The Department also fields a group of investigators that work in conjunction with the Medical Examiner’s Office and the Prosecutor’s Office in the investigation of sudden deaths. A Canine (K-9) Squad also assists departments in the investigation of burglary, narcotics, and arson incidents.
Should be the other way around, get rid of the often corrupt Sheriff's Dept.!!!
Janet Hill
3:32 pm on Saturday, August 11, 2012
As a Mahwh Resident who has been in a position of seeing both the Bergen County Police SWAT Team and Bomb Squad in action by being in the" right place at the right time" or should I say by being in the" wrong place at the wrong time" I agree with Carter. Leave the Bergen County Police alone! They are very professional, well trained, and I was more than impressed seeing them in action.. Trust me seeing it on TV is one thing actually being there with your heart in your throat is another. I feel 100% safer in Mahwah with the County Police in charge. DO NOT put your safety or the safety of those you love in Jeopardy.
Matt
10:20 am on Saturday, August 11, 2012
Consolidating both forces under a single administration should eliminate some jobs at the top which should save money while keeping most of the actual cops. You can keep separate "units" within the single, resulting department, and these units can continue their current duties - one for the parks, etc., and one for the courts/jails. Take the politics out of the equation and this seems to make perfect fiscal sense.
Flygrl
11:16 am on Saturday, August 11, 2012
With Matt on that
SHEESH
2:35 pm on Saturday, August 11, 2012
Just another example of the Chicago-esque politics alive and well in the County
Ally Shuster Shea
2:44 pm on Saturday, August 11, 2012
Double dipper republican Donovan said she would cut govt, when the democratic study said to disband the bcpd, she lied and failed the voters. The Bergen republicans are now calling for a state AG investigation into republican party bossism, it's clear fraud occurred under the Bergen republicans. The bcpd will now be moved under another double dipper republican saudino, who opposed merging small town police depts. these corrupt Bergen republicans have to go
Trylon Man
3:23 pm on Saturday, August 11, 2012
Next consolidation b c boards of ed
mom in fair lawn
8:30 pm on Saturday, August 11, 2012
Here's an idea..... how about we cut taxes instead of county police officer's jobs?
The Stig
1:18 am on Sunday, August 12, 2012
To cut taxes you need to cut expenses. To cut expenses, you need to reduce staff. Ergo, cutting all the redundant police positions in Bergen County WILL cut taxes.
Tommy P
10:29 am on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
History shows these clowns will find another way to spend the money. That said, waste needs to fear the voters. BCPD is a waste.
lowertaxesJohn
1:42 pm on Sunday, August 12, 2012
We have too much wastewful spending. Unless, we elect not just republicans, but real conservativesm, liberals/democrats will continue spending our money like water.
Annie Stevens
5:03 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
Zzzz
Mahwah911
8:08 am on Monday, August 13, 2012
In addition to the County Police we also have a County Security force that patrols the County Parks and County buildings. What is the status of this agency?
Gabriel Francis
10:31 am on Monday, August 13, 2012
Don't be fooled folks. This is a power play by Yudin, Saudino and Cardinale to get at Donovan. The politicians are dressing up this issue as cost savings and government efficiency when it is simply a political vendetta at the expense of public safety. They don't even have a plan! They haven't explained how the services (SWAT, bomb, K9, etc.) will be run by the sheriff or if there are any actual savings. They haven't considered the central municipal court, ongoing cases/investigations, evidence, warrants, administrative costs, uniform and equipment costs, moving costs, vehicles, radios, policies and procedures for new units, and the list goes on. It's dirty politics, plain and simple. Yudin is now the new Ferierro, pulling the strings of the elected officials and making policy decisions as a party boss. Good luck to all you taxpayers who really on the government for public safety!!
Tommy P
10:27 am on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
The State has all of these and supports other towns already. Remember, every square inch patrolled by BCPD is already patrolled by local PDs.
John Q. Public
12:44 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
Everyone is so concerned about how things like SWAT and K9 will be run by the Sheriff's Department if the County Police is dissolved. It will probably be run the EXACT SAME WAY it is now. The Sheriff's Office has 6 operational units: Court Security, Homeland Security, K9, Sheriff's Operation, Prisoner Transport, and Special Operations. I really don't think adding a bomb squad or traffic unit will yield disastrous results.
Edward Durfee
12:55 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
Thank You Mr. Mitchell, your leadership has brought this issue into focus and now the wheels can turn in one direction. It appears that we need to cut the wasteful administration that exists between the two agencies. The sheriff's office is the choice to stay and the only constitutionally mandated office. The planning and writing of the necessary regs, etc can begin. WE the people MUST resist the egos in play that want to call out the lawyers. STAND TALL BERGEN and take the money back.
fghfgh
2:56 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
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