Crime & Safety

Police Unions Respond to Lay Off Plan

A little more than a week after Mayor Dawn Zimmer announced lay offs, the PBA and PSOA attorney came out with a statement on behalf of both unions.

Through a statement from their lawyer, the police unions spoke out about the city's plan to lay off 18 and demote 19 members of the police department, posing the question: "where are the City's priorities?"

The city is also laying off 18 other city employees who work in other city departments. The plan still has to be approved by the state, which is expected to take between two and four weeks. 

Donald Ross, who is the attorney for the Policemen's Benevolent Association as well as the Police Superior Officers' Association, made a case against the demotions and lay offs in a release sent out Monday afternoon.

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Ross said that if the city demotes 19 officers, it may save $220,000 annually. He added that 18 lay offs may save $990,000 in salary and benefits (together that's $1.21 million a year). But, Ross added, that would mean only $75 in annual savings for the city's tax payers. 

"The PBA and PSOA are convinced that these actions were motivated by personal and political animosity toward the police unions and their members," said Ross in the statement.

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A state audit of the HPD found the department over staffed and called for a reduction of roughly a third of the officers, including patrolmen. Although Zimmer has said she is following the audit's advice, she said she is not reducing the amount of patrolmen on the streets. The state's audit, which was completed by a former Maplewood police chief, also concluded that the position of Public Safety Director is not necessary. 

In response to the state audit, Vince Lombardi, the president of the PBA, presented a counter report to City Council and the mayor. The report, which was completed by a firm hired by the PBA, Lombardi said, refutes the state's findings.

Zimmer said during a press conference on July 21 that the 36 lay offs would save the city $2.5 million. 

Ross also mentioned that, in the midst of lay offs, two city employees got raises.

Last month, in accordance with the city's updated salary ordinance, the mayor's confidential assistant Daniel Bryan received a $10,000 raise (from $35,000 to $45,000) and the mayor's confidential aide Juan Melli—who serves as the city's spokesman—got a $15,000 bump. Melli, who doesn't receive benefits from the city, was hired at $75,000 before assuming his position in May, but said he agreed to start off with a lower salary to aid the city's budget.  

Ross said in the release that reducing the police force by attrition is a safer way to make the cuts. "Attrition brings a gradual decline in staffing numbers so that there is no sudden impact on the level of public safety," he wrote. "If the City's plan is implemented 37 officers will be laid off or demoted. In short, 24 percent of the department will be affected by the cuts."

Retired and long time Hoboken police officer Ed Mecka wrote an open letter to the mayor on his personal web site, urging her to "tread carefully" with the police lay offs.

"I predict that the implementation of 'your' proposed Police reorganization plan will result in 'Zimmer' administration's inability to deliver 'adequate, standard of care' public safety services," Mecka wrote. 

The police unions are also still negotiating their labor contracts with the city. The PBA and the PSOA have been without a contract since Dec. 31, 2007.  A tentative agreement, which was signed by State Fiscal Monitor Judy Tripodi on Jan. 13, 2010, would have included a 12.4 percent increase in salary for all officers and ranks. Because the officers have been without contracts for nearly 2.5 years, the retroactive pay would have been close to $3 million. City Council unanimously voted the plan down. 

When Zimmer announced the lay offs on July 21, she said that "public safety is a major concern in the community." 

"There will be no reduction in patrolmen policing our streets," Zimmer said, "it's very important to me to keep the community very safe."


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