Police Union: Layoffs Will Jeopardize Public Safety

Editor's Note: The following statement was read by Lawrence Township Police Officer Andrew Lee, president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 209, to Lawrence Township Council at .

Good evening, ladies and gentleman, Mr. Mayor and members of Council.  My name is Andrew Lee and I am the president of the Lawrence Township Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 209. 

I am here today with respect to the amendment to tonight’s budget involving the layoffs of several of my officers in the Lawrence Township Police Department. 

I am going to keep this presentation rather short but to the point.  I am going to focus on three key issues: (1) the safety of my fellow officers; (2) the safety of the community; and (3) alternatives to the layoff process. 

Approximately two weeks ago, two Lawrence Township Police Officers, and were involved in two separate aggravated assault incidents.  Although receiving only minor injuries, their safety depended upon the response of assisting officers to the scene.  In Officer Laird's circumstance, a concerned citizen had to assist Officer Laird with apprehending the suspect.

Although I applaud and am very grateful this citizen's efforts, it is not his duty to protect and serve.  Officer Laird's backup arrived within minutes.  Sgt. Lech's backup arrived within seconds.  I bring these two situations to your attention because they are recent and involve officer safety.  I believe that with any type of decrease in manpower through layoffs or any other means will inevitably cause an officer getting hurt or possibly seriously injured or killed. 

Let's face it we are the gateway to the City of Trenton.  The reason why you don't have an influx of crime – and when I say that I mean more than the 24 percent that has already increased according to the 2011 Lawrence Township crime statistics – is because of your police force. 

We do not have any specialized units, no additional equipment or manpower to aid us with this responsibility.  At most you, have six police officers patrolling Lawrence Township.  Of the six, up to one or two are assigned to the dispatch area because they are already cut too thin and two dispatchers have not been replaced.

During the overnight hours, the police department is operating with four officers – four officers to cover approximately 22 square miles during the time when the most crimes occur during the hours of darkness. The overtime in the police department is already outrageous and we operate in an environment where the morale is already low. 

With respect to the community, the residents of this community have expected a high quality of service.  Officers have responded to every, and I mean every call, that comes in through dispatch. Whether it be changing a woman’s light bulb in her refrigerator to the most serious calls of service, Lawrence Township police have always answered to the community.

Last year alone, there was a 44 percent increase in burglaries alone.  Robberies had increased along with other crimes against society. This week alone there was a report of two , with .  A reduction in the force means your expectations of service will be diminished. 

Now some skeptics out here will have you believe that the police department will continue to operate in the same fashion because there are too many officers as there is.  What the skeptics don't inform you of is that the police department has been losing positions through attrition for the past 10 years.  At one time there were approximately 70-plus police officers in Lawrence Township. 

Today there are approximately 63.  A indicated that there is adequate staffing with the present number.  To reduce the number will affect your services in the community. 

Think about this a minute.  What happens the day you or a loved one walks in the door and are confronted with a burglar?  You run to the phone and dial 911.  Unfortunately because there was a reduction in manpower the officers who could have been there wasn't and the officers who remain are coming from other areas of the township. 

This is not a fantasy but a reality of what could happen. 

You will also see a reduction in solved cases because the detective division would be reduced to add to the numbers for patrol.  This doesn't sound like a problem until the suspects of a crime continue to commit crimes and the detective division is inundated with other investigations.   

A police department is not a business.  It is a public safety organization that our community relies on to protect their families and property.

The officers facing layoffs who are here tonight are very concerned.  I personally do not think that it is fair to lay off these officers.  It is not their fault the township is in this predicament. Let's face, it we are at the bottom of the barrel. There is nothing more to give or nothing more to get. 

On top of that, what is really incomprehensible is the fact that there are administrators in the department who would be able to retire and have full pensions already secured and lose nothing but would choose to stay and allow the younger officers who are just beginning their law enforcement careers to face layoffs. 

In summation, the Lawrence Township FOP Lodge 209 will oppose and take a strong stance against any layoffs that will negatively impact officer safety or create a risk to members of the community.  I implore you, Mayor and Council, to do the right thing and find other means than to put my fellow officers and this community's safety in jeopardy.

Thank you for your time.