Ocean County Police Chief Charges that Budget Cuts Prevents Department from Fulfilling Its Mission

Posted on March 29, 2009 by Frank Crivelli

Point Pleasant Beach Police Chief, Daniel DePolo, has charged that the budgetary cuts initiated by the Borough Government are so deep that they are placing the public safety at risk and will prevent the police department from fulfilling its mission.  Recent budget cuts have chopped the Department's overtime budget by 75% and have made cuts to the Department's ability to hire special seasonal officers by 50%. 

After listening to Councilman John Mercun’s budget report on Tuesday night, Police Chief Daniel DePolo publicly stated:  “You’ve given me a budget I can’t work with.  It’s impossible for me to survive on this budget. There will be furloughs in the fall and layoffs.”  The chief said the finance committee has often talked of “trimming the fat from the budget, not the muscle,” but added, “this is a stake through the heart. Will the town recover? Beats me.”

We are bringing this article to your attention as another New Jersey municipality has chosen to place public safety on the back burner during times of economic recession.  As stated by the State Troopers Fraternal Association's President, David Jones, at a meeting with the New Jersey State Treasurer, "bad guys and criminals don't take time off during a recession.  If anything, crime increases when the economy turns sour."

Again, get out and support your fellow law enforcement officers.  During economic times such as these, no jobs are completely safe and away from the chopping block.

To read the complete article regarding the Point Pleasant Beach Police Department that was published in this weeks Ocean Star click on the link below.

Police Chief Blast Proposed Budget Cuts.

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Fiscal Cuts and Cost Saving Measures May Violate Your Contract

Posted on February 3, 2009 by Frank Crivelli

On January 31, 2009, the Louisville Courier-Journal reported that approximately 50 Louisville Metro Police officers decided to turn in their patrol cars so they will not have to pay an increased fee for using them after work hours. Police Chief Robert White announced in December, 2008 that officers who take their vehicles home would have to pay a $100 monthly fee to help cut expenses in the department and help address a $20 million projected city budget shortfall. Officers who use their cars for off-duty employment will have to pay $160 per month.

Previous to the announcement, officers were paying a $30 monthly fee or $60 for off-duty employment use. The fees have been an issue of contention between the police administration and the Fraternal Order of Police, the union that represents officers. The union contends that assessing the fee violates their contract because it was not negotiated as a change. However, police department managers say driving cars home is a privilege and is not part of the officers' contract.

The policy that assessed the original fee is the subject of a grievance that is presently outstanding. When the fee was increased, the grievance was amended to include the new proposed charges.

The police department estimates that approximately 1,094 police department vehicles are used as take-home cars. With the policy in place and the increased fees, the police department estimates that a savings for the city in the amount of $110,000.00 will be realized on a monthly basis.

While this particular article does not have direct applicability to New Jersey Public Labor Law, it does demonstrate that state, county, and municipal police departments throughout the country are looking to curtail spending and reduce costs due to the economic recession. If cuts have not been made in many departments throughout New Jersey, union leaders can expect to see the implementation of cost savings measures soon. It is vitally important to the rights of organized public safety officers that each one of these “cuts” or cost savings measures be assessed and evaluated to determine if the actions are contractual violations and should therefore be the subject of a group grievance. Keep your eyes and ears open and be sure that the rights of your members are being protected.  Finally, always be sure to fight within the confines of the law to preserve the integrity of your collective bargaining agreement.

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