Citing a need to increase security at “parks and public places” around town, Mayor David Roberts announced last week that the city plans to hire 30 full-time and part-time police officers before the end of November, in order to enhance the police presence on the streets.
Meanwhile, the city’s police chief said in a separate phone interview that more police are needed because violent crime and robbery statistics are rising in town.
Mayor Roberts said last week that half of the new hires will be part-time “Class 2” police officers. The Class 2 officers will carry a badge and sidearm, and have the same arresting power as a regular patrolman while on duty, but they will be required to relinquish both items at the end of their shift. They also will only work 20 hours a week, receiving no medical benefits.
“Quality of life has always been a priority in my administration, and with [these hirings] we’ll be able to better secure our parks and public places around town,” said Roberts.
Roberts’ comments came after a series of Reporter articles noted that in several recent incidents, young girls were approached in public parks by strangers, causing fear among parents.
“The problems we are having with [people] coming into our community and committing serious crimes won’t be tolerated,” Roberts added.
Rise in crime from last August
Hoboken has seen a sharp spike in the number of violent crimes from last August to this August, as compared to the year before, Police Chief Dr. Carmen LaBruno said last week.
In Hoboken, violent crime as a whole is up 56 percent, from 58 crimes to 91, LaBruno said.
Robberies are up 77 percent, from 22 to 39, he said.
LaBruno also said that two rapes were reported in January (see sidebar).
In addition, there has been a 42 percent increase in aggravated assault.
LaBruno attributed the increases in crime to a combination of the city having fewer police to patrol the streets, and an increase in the city’s population, which LaBruno estimates to currently be in the area of 50,000 residents. “The increase of patrolmen will give us additional eyes and ears on the street while enhancing our ability to interact with the public,” LaBruno said. “It will have a positive effect all around.”
When asked about the increase, Roberts said, “There’s been a spike in violent crime across the county, and we are doing what we can to quell that in Hoboken.” Roberts added that the city’s police budget has almost doubled since he took office, which “is the largest increase of police spending in any administration.”
Financial impact
Roberts said that the hires won’t increase the $14.1 million police budget because several superior officers with high salaries are retiring.
New patrolmen earn $29,450. The current salary earned by officers at the rank of sergeant or lieutenant ranges between $77,000 and $78,000, according to Business Administrator Richard England.
Hoboken’s police chief, Dr. Carmen LaBruno, could not accurately project how many officers are expected to leave the department in the coming year. But he said that at least two lieutenants and one sergeant have made plans to retire, and another two officers are on a list to transfer to the Hoboken Fire Department (HFD). According England, the salaries of all Hoboken police officers across the board are likely to increase by approximately 12 percent when and if they receive their new contract. The city’s police officers have been without a contract since December of 2004.
The Class-2 officers will receive approximately $12 per hour. By not receiving benefits they will save the city, depending on the size of their family, between $10,000 and $20,000 per year, as compared with full-time officers.
In order to hire the additional officers, an ordinance requiring that all new officers be Hoboken residents may be revised, said LaBruno, who added that as many as all 30 might come from out of town.
The mayor concurred, saying whatever needs to be done will be. Right now, police must currently start out as Hoboken residents, although once they are appointed they are permitted to reside outside of Hoboken.
There are currently no class-2 police officers in the department, although approximately 20 of them were hired seven or eight years ago under the Anthony Russo administration. Those officers went on to become full-time.
No contract
The police officers, who have been without a new contract since 2004, obviously welcome more hires. “We feel as though we’ve been forgotten about for the past year,” said Sgt. Kenneth Ferrante, president of the Hoboken Police Superior Officer’s Association. The association represents all officers at or above the rank of sergeant.
“However,” he added, “[the new hires] are a step in the right direction, opening up opportunities for advancement in many areas of the department.”
Ferrante noted that the city and the union are currently in contract arbitration, and added that he is “confident the issue will be resolved by the first quarter of 2008.”
Hoboken’s other police union president, Vincent Lombardi, who heads the No. 2 Local Police Benevolent Association representing the city’s patrolmen, added, “Not having a contract for years has had a serious impact on the morale of the officers.”
Lombardi said that in two years, more than 40 police and fire personnel will be eligible for retirement, meaning a “severe deficiency could result in both departments.”
“The city should be anticipating this situation now by planning to hire their replacements before they lose them,” he said.
Michael Mullins can be reached at mmullins@hudsonreporter.com. SIDE BAR
Two reported rapes
The first of two reported rapes in Hoboken in the past year was reported on Jan. 1, 2007. The female victim declined law enforcement involvement, according to Assistant Hudson County Prosecutor Guy Gregory, whose office handled the investigation. Because the case was dropped, no arrest was made, and Gregory refused to release any further information.
According to a Hoboken police source, the incident allegedly occurred in the hallway of a bar at 310 Sinatra Drive.
The second reported rape occurred two weeks later, on Jan. 16, in the area of 12th and Grand streets. According to Gregory, the incident involved two homeless individuals who knew each other. In the complaint, which was filed by a 45-year-old female victim, a 45-year-old man allegedly forced himself on her while he was intoxicated. The case was brought before a grand jury in February. The jury did not find probable cause to hold him for rape, according to Gregory.
The case was subsequently remanded back to the Hoboken Municipal Court to charge the man on a lesser charge of simple assault. – MM