Criminals will have one less place to hide as a result of a proposal that will provide full-time law enforcement coverage of county parks and the streets that surround them.
Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari told members of the freeholder board at their March 29 caucus meeting that patrol shifts for county sheriff’s officers will be increased to go around the clock – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Although their duties generally involve protecting county courts and delivering warrants and other legal notices, the elimination of the county police in 1995 made patrolling county parks and county streets also one of their duties. Previously, these patrols were limited to specific hours, something Schillari is expected to change.
“We reviewed this and it is an excellent program.” — Freeholder Eliu Rivers
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Currently, the Sheriff’s Department patrols most, but not all, of the county parks from 7 a.m. to about 11 p.m., and provides municipal transportation from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. on regular time pay, and from 2 to 6 a.m. on overtime.
The proposed change would provide 24-hour patrols to all of the county parks, including – for the first time – Laurel Hill Park in Jersey City, Stephen R. Gregg Park in Bayonne, and Columbus Park in Hoboken. The change will also increase municipal transport to 24 hours a day at regular pay.
The sheriff’s officers will be divided into four squads – with two for day and two for night – and will work on a 14-day cycle with a 12-hour work shift.
The proposed restructuring would provide the increased service for about $250,000 more per year than the existing coverage, and would save almost $3 million per year if the county was to adopt full coverage under its current scheduling program.
Freeholder Anthony Romano said the new patrols will help deal with the problems of vandalism in various county parks since these things occurred in the parks after dark.
He said the recently refurbished sun building in Columbus Park in Hoboken had to be touched up after vandals sprayed graffiti there. Columbus Park will also be patrolled under the new program.
O’Dea said vandalism usually occurs in Lincoln Park after midnight. Since the Sheriff’s Department is now tied into the new camera system at the park, they will be able to monitor the situation even better.
The county installed cameras near the playground and athletic fields in Lincoln Park earlier this year. They went operational in May along with wireless Internet access at the park.
The Sheriff’s Office’s communications desk monitors the cameras around the clock and calls officers patrolling the park when an incident occurs.
At O’Dea’s request, County Administrator Abe Anton contacted the Sheriff’s Office and the county’s technology consultant and began testing security camera access from patrol cars utilizing the park’s wireless Internet last availability.
Vandalism has been a problem in Stephen Gregg Park, as well. With the proposed patrols and the expected installation of new cameras, this problem may be decreased.
“We reviewed this, and it is an excellent program,” Freeholder Eliu Rivers said, although he wondered if the patrols could be used to help deal with the traffic situation on Kennedy Boulevard.
Most dangerous road
The Tri-State Transportation Campaign, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to reducing the use of automobiles, listed Kennedy Boulevard last month as the most dangerous road in Hudson County.
Schillari said he intended to team up with local municipalities to deal with traffic there, but did not have the authority under the law to deal with it.
The former Hudson County Police Department, which did have the authority to deal with traffic situations on county roads, was abolished in 1995 as part of a cost savings measure. While the Sheriff’s Department did pick up some of the duties, street patrols for traffic is the obligation of the local municipal police.
Deputy sheriff resolution stalled
A resolution that would have established a program of volunteer deputy sheriffs was delayed by the Hudson County Freeholder Board last week, saying freeholders needed more information about liability and who would be qualified. Under the program, civilians would receive police training, would be allowed to carry weapons, and would also be able to make arrests. While their primary use would be to fill in for parades and other similar non-enforcement activities, these deputies would have much of the same authority as paid sheriff’s officers.
According to the resolution, the Hudson County Deputy Sheriff Program will permit individuals to volunteer their time for 20 hours per week. This would still be advantageous to the county because it will increase the staff of deputies at no additional cost, except for the amount to insure them under liability.
Freeholder Jose Munoz said he was concerned about arming civilians, and wondered if the program could be open exclusively to retired police and other people with law enforcement experience. The matter is expected to be reviewed by the freeholders’ Public Safety Committee before coming to a vote in April.