Are police cuts coming?
By ROBERT LINNEHAN
The Cherry Hill Sun
5/23/2010

The Cherry Hill Police Officers Association is expecting to see as many as 16 officers laid off by July 1, as the organization and Cherry Hill continue to negotiate new contracts for the police union.

About 50 police officers and the presidents of the Cherry Hill FOP and PBA made their presence felt last week at the Township Council meeting. According to FOP President Tim Tedesco, the township is planning to terminate between 12 to 16 uniformed police officers.

Mayor Bernie Platt did not confirm the number, as the township is still working to craft its budget. He did not go into details of the ongoing contract negotiations.

“I’ve always said, and I will continue to say after the negotiations, we have the best Police Department and Fire Department in the state,” Platt said. “We are in dire financial times, and we’re doing our best to not lay off any police officers.”

Chief of Staff Dan Keashen said in light of the fiscal crisis throughout the state, there must be a shared sacrifice between the township and the police union. It’s important, he said, to work together to reach a beneficial agreement for both the township’s public safety and taxpayers.

According to a press release from the POA, Cherry Hill has decreased its uniformed officers by 11 since 2008, to the 135 officers currently serving the township at the present.

How will the police department be expected to serve the community with even fewer officers, Tedesco asked Platt during the meeting. He also asked Platt if the mayor could accurately predict how these layoffs will affect the safety of officers on patrol in Cherry Hill.

“While we stand cognizant of the fiscal concerns facing all municipalities, we seek to be an active partner with the township in reducing expenses and costs. However, a blanket reduction to our already depleted department is neither a viable solution nor one which is likely to be popular with the residents and business owners in this township,” read the POA press release.

George Kline, a retired police officer who served 25 years, supported his “brothers and sisters in blue” for keeping his family in Cherry Hill safe.

When the economy goes bad, he said, it typically leads to rising crime rates.

Why, he asked, would Township Council want to risk the safety of Cherry Hill by laying off 12 to 16 police officers during this recession?

“We in law enforcement are expected to do more with less,” he said. “But the township needs to get rid of the pork and not reduce public safety. I challenge you to go back over the budget and make the right decision and cut what needs to be cut and retain these brothers and sisters in blue.”

Every members of the Township Council spoke in regard to the police issue, but did not comment on the specific details of the negotiations.

Council Member Jacquelene Silver said she understood how important and difficult a police officer’s job could be, as her father was an officer.

She supported the township police department and public safety, but did not comment further on the negotiations.