Police Officers In Every Bridgewater School? Mayor Submits Proposal To District

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — School safety and security has been at the forefront of discussion in the Bridgewater community following the many school shootings including at the Uvalde, Texas elementary school. However, Bridgewater-Raritan schools and Township Mayor Matthew Moench have not been able to come to an agreement on a unified plan for the district.

On Thursday, Moench submitted a formal proposal to the Board of Education offering to have a township police officer stationed at every school building in the regional school district.

"This proposal was carefully considered and crafted. It provides additional security for our children to guarantee that every child is protected at all times. It also shifts the financial burden to the Township, thereby freeing up school resources which can be placed back into the district to support teacher salaries or programs for our children. This proposal is consistent with my core convictions on this issue, both as a father and as Bridgewater’s Mayor," wrote Moench.

Moench's proposed plan specifically noted that "the only armed personnel in Bridgewater schools should be sworn Bridgewater Police Officers who are responsible to the Chief of Police and who have a moral and legal duty to 'make every effort to preserve and protect human life'."

This proposal follows Superintendent Robert Beer's report to the school board on July 19 that outlined the district's security initiatives.

Beers along with Mike Voorhees (Director of District Security) led an audit of security needs for the district.

Their recommendations to the school board included creating an assistant director of school security position, to recruit and hire security who are board of education employees, and to continue working with law enforcement.

"Our 'campus monitors' are retired law enforcement who attained high ranks and have the finest credentials we could find. All of these individuals have served as leaders and instructors in the field of law enforcement. Their credentials are impeccable and the community is lucky to have them on our staff. Just a quick reminder, these are not private security guards, but Board of Education Employees," said Beers.

Moench's proposal disagrees with Beers' plan.

"Armed private security personnel — no matter how well trained or qualified —l ack the same legal duties and protections of sworn law enforcement officers; consequently, they cannot be entrusted with the safety of our children in a life-or-death emergency," said Moench.

No resolution has been announced on the security plan yet.

Looking at this school year, the board of education has paid about $400,000 for additional security personnel and has appropriated millions of dollars in the following initiatives:

• Camera Systems
• Swipe Card Systems
• Panic Buttons
• Personnel
• Additional funding will be dedicated in the upcoming referendum for hardened entry systems and enhanced traffic safety measures.

"Our students, faculty, and school community deserve the enhancements and systems we have created and implemented. I look to continue to work with our partners to ensure the safety and security of our students," said Beers.

See below for Moench's full proposal:

Cover Letter to BRRSD BOE by Alexis Tarrazi on Scribd

>

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.