News

Somerset County can save $18M a year by combining 19 police departments

Published December 9, 2010

SOMERSET COUNTY — Somerset County’s 19 police departments should join forces to form one department that could save $18 million a year, a consultant said today.

Thomas Banker, a former Essex County deputy administrator who teaches at Columbia University and Rutgers, said his proposal would establish three precincts and could save millions. He also said there would be a loss of 167 positions — through attrition over five years — as well as concerns about bureaucracy and the connection between police and towns.

Banker revealed the findings of a long-awaited study on how county police can save money to a standing-room-only crowd in the county administration building.

“This is just to start a dialogue,” he said before the meeting. “This is certainly not stone tablets coming down the mountain.”

That dialogue began immediately after the presentation, with mayors and police officials voicing questions and concerns.

“What are we losing in safety in this new world of terrorism?” asked Mayor Victor Sordillo of Warren Township.

North Plainfield Police Chief William Parenti, who questioned the accuracy of some numbers in the analysis, said: “Shared service is a good thing, but it is of course less service. We’ll have to take a look at it.”

Bridgewater Mayor Patricia Flannery said the idea has potential: “If we get comparable service at less cost, it’s worthwhile,” she said.

Somerset County was ranked the fourth-safest county in the state, according to the 2009 Uniform Crime Report.

Under Banker’s proposal, most administrative positions would move to a central office that could be housed near the county complex. Suggested precinct sites are Franklin, Bridgewater and Bernards. The third precinct would be split, however, with police in Bernards and courts in Watchung.

Ultimately, towns in a countywide force would pay an annually adjusted amount based on police activity in their boundaries.

Eugene Paik/For The Star-Ledger