Ocean Township Police seek local support

This is an appeal to the residents of Ocean Township concerned about public safety and our quality of life. The men and women of the township of Ocean Police Department are seeking your support. It is the opinion of Ocean Township PBA Local 57 that the police department is dangerously understaffed. With a recent retirement, the staffing level has fallen to 60 police officers.

A 2003 study conducted by the New Jersey State Police’s Uniform Crime Reporting Unit indicates Ocean Township should have five additional police officers to attain the rate of Monmouth County and 10 additional officers to attain the rate of the state. By comparison, Freehold Township has 68 officers, Wall Township has 71 officers, Marlboro Township has 76 officers, and Howell Township has 90 officers. Between 2002 and 2003, the crime rate in Ocean Township increased by 14.5 percent according to an Oct. 14 article in a local daily newspaper.

There has not been an increase in police manpower since the late 1970s. Anyone who travels the roadways of Ocean or has children in the school system knows the population of this community — as well as the surrounding communities — has grown tremendously. Additionally, we are now the primary law enforcement agency for the Village of Loch Arbour. The responsibilities and workload of the individual officers have increased, but the size of the police department has not. We have become completely “reactionary,” as opposed to being a proactive police department.

Historically, those who manage this community have always been one step behind the manpower needs of the police department. This practice must end. With one officer already retired, one set to retire at the end of this year and at least two scheduled to leave next year, four officers should have been hired and placed into the academy months ago. Despite having this knowledge, replacements have yet to be hired. It could take an entire year just to replace those retirees. If the seven other officers now eligible to retire decide to do so, our staffing will fall to dangerous levels.

Additionally, the current chief of police, Robert Swannack, will be retiring effective Jan. 1. The Township Council intends to replace the chief’s position with a yet-to-be-defined, “interim” leadership position. The township has yet to replace the vacant deputy chief’s position, which has been vacant for five years. The conditional interim position comes with a one- to two-year probationary period. This probationary period will effectively weaken the chief’s authority, and further erode his or her ability to build up the department to the adequate staffing that is required to maintain safety and efficiency.

You may ask, “How does this affect me?” The answer can be frightening. With the increase in population, traffic and calls for service, the ability to effectively serve our community decreases. The increased demand on the police department means less time dedicated to proactive patrol and an increase in response time. Imagine experiencing a life-threatening emergency when there are not enough officers available to properly respond to that need. The results could be catastrophic.

The undeniable truth is, that day is near if not already here. Don’t find yourself in a situation where you say to yourself, “If only I had done something.” This is your community and this is your police department. Don’t let this opportunity slip by. You have a voice, and your opinion counts.

We ask the public to attend the Township Council meeting Dec. 8 at 8 p.m. and show its support for us. This is an issue that affects every person who lives, works or travels through this municipality. Urge your friends and neighbors to attend and listen to the facts presented as we appeal to the mayor and Township Council for more manpower. Our intentions are to continue to provide the courteous, efficient and expeditious services this community expects and deserves.

Kevin L. Faller

delegate, PBA Local 57

Allenhurst, Ocean Township, Interlaken