As reported in NJ.com on July 22, 2013, the Bergen County Prosecutors Office refused to reimburse the towns of Park Ridge, Montvale and Woodcliff Lake, for the cost of a police consolidation study which the Borough of Montvale rejected. 

The study, which cost $49,000.00, stated that the three boroughs would save $1 million dollars by merging their police departments. The report was conducted by the Matrix Consulting Group of Mountain View, California, and published on June 3, 2013. The study further stated that the vast majority of savings that the towns would recognize from a combined police department would come from reducing the number of employees through attrition, and consolidation of the higher ranking administrative officers. The greatest savings would come from the elimination of management positions. 

Despite the findings of the report, the Police Chiefs from all three departments stated that the recommendations were untenable and unrealistic. Basically, the Police Chiefs stated that the reduced manpower would cause slower response times and would endanger resident’s safety. This study and the notion of combining police departments demonstrates the trend that is ongoing within the State of New Jersey regarding consolidation of services amongst first responders and emergency personnel. While saving may be recognized on paper, the cuts that are often proposed are unrealistic and cause significant safety concerns for towns. As more consolidation efforts become apparent we will keep you informed of the same.

Tags: consolidation, police merger, shared services, Shared Services/Consolodation, shared-services agreements
Print:
Email this postTweet this postLike this postShare this post on LinkedIn
Photo of Frank M. Crivelli Frank M. Crivelli

Frank M. Crivelli’s practice revolves around the representation of over eighty-five (85) labor unions in various capacities, the majority of which bargain for law enforcement entities. He is proud to be called on a daily basis to provide counsel to over 12,000 state…

Frank M. Crivelli’s practice revolves around the representation of over eighty-five (85) labor unions in various capacities, the majority of which bargain for law enforcement entities. He is proud to be called on a daily basis to provide counsel to over 12,000 state, county and local law enforcement officers, firefighters and EMS workers.

Mr. Crivelli specializes his individual practice in collective negotiations.  Over the past twenty (20) years, Mr. Crivelli has negotiated well over one hundred (100) collective bargaining agreements for various state, county, municipal and private organizations and has resolved over thirty-five (35) labor agreements that have reached impasse through compulsory interest arbitration.  Mr. Crivelli routinely litigates matters in front of the New Jersey State Public Employment Relations Commission, the New Jersey Office of Administrative Law, third party neutrals for mediation, grievance and interest arbitration, the Superior Court of New Jersey and the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Mr. Crivelli founded and created the New Jersey Public Safety Officers Law Blog (www.njpublicsafetyofficers.com) approximately fifteen (15) years ago where he and members of his firm routinely publish blog posts regarding legal issues related to the employment of New Jersey Public Safety Officers.  The blog now contains over six hundred (600) articles and is reviewed and relied upon by thousands of public employees.  Mr. Crivelli has also published books and manuals pertaining to New Jersey Public Employee Disability Pension Appeals and the New Jersey Worker’s Compensation System. Currently, he is drafting a publication on how to Prepare and Negotiate a Collective Bargaining Agreement.  He lectures annually at the New Jersey State PBA Collective Bargaining Seminar, the National Association of Police Organization’s Legal Seminar, the New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission Seminar on Public Employment Labor Law, the United States Marine Corps’ Commander’s Media Training Symposium and to Union Executive Boards and General Membership bodies on various labor related topics.

Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Crivelli joined the United States Marine Corps where he served as a Judge Advocate with the Legal Services Support Section of the First Force Services Support Group in Camp Pendleton, California.  While serving in the Marine Corps, Mr. Crivelli defended and prosecuted hundreds of Special and General Court Martial cases and administrative separation matters.  In addition to his trial duties, Mr. Crivelli was also charged with the responsibility of training various Marine and Naval combat command elements on the interpretation and implementation of the rules of engagement for various military conflicts that were ongoing throughout the world at that time. After leaving active duty, Mr. Crivelli remained in the Marine Corps Reserves where he was promoted to the rank of Major before leaving the service.

For the past fifteen (15) years, Mr. Crivelli has been certified as a Civil Trial Attorney by the Supreme Court for the State of New Jersey, a certification which less than two percent (2%) of the attorneys in New Jersey have achieved.  He is a graduate of Washington College (B.A.), the City University of New York School of Law (J.D.), the United States Naval Justice School, and the Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation.

Read more about Frank M. CrivelliFrank's Linkedin Profile
Show more Show less
Related Posts
Hamilton Mayor Talks Fire District Consolidation; Wants State Input
October 12, 2015
Hamilton Firefighter Unions Tout Plan For Fire District Consolidation
October 8, 2015
East Windsor's 2015 Budget Does Not Include Consolidated Police Services With Hightstown
March 9, 2015