Three Probationary Police Officers to be Hired in the Township

Washington Township Mayor Janet Sobkowicz said three probationary police officers will be hired to help the through a difficult period of force reduction due to injuries, retirements and leaves. She hopes to have the three officers start next week.

Councilmen were surprised with the mayor's announcement Monday, saying they were under the impression two officers would be hired. Council President Fred Goetz said Sobkowicz did not ask for the council's approval in the decision, which he said was improper.

"You cannot just unilaterally decide you’re going to hire whoever [you] want. No one agreed on anything," Goetz said. "The council did not agree. We did not take a vote, we did not take a straw poll."

Sobkowicz said the council was aware of police hires and stressed that the additional officers are necessary to relieve an overworked force. She said that township officers sometimes work 16 hours straight even though schedules are being juggled and some personnel are working on light duty. In addition to the probationary officers, who will be hired for one year from their start date, Sobkowicz said three part-time dispatchers have also been hired.

Goetz also said he was worried about having enough funds to pay the officers. He said the current proposed budget doesn't have enough money in the Police Salaries and Wages line item to cover three probationary officers. He said there could be enough money in another line item in the police category, such as overtime pay, but added the purpose of the budget is to set forth a spending plan that is as accurate as possible.

"She [Sobkowicz] is doing an end-run around the checks and balances of the council and a disservice to the taxpayers by not recognizing what was appropriated for and just doing what she wants anyway," Goetz said. "We cannot add money to a line item unless we have another amendment to the budget and then re-advertise again, which would result in a significant delay again."

Councilmen and agreed to have a public hearing on those amendments June 13.

Sobkowicz said she believes there will be enough money in the budget to pay for three probationary officers. She explained that since it's already May, the township would only have to pay six months worth of salaries to the officers. She also said the new officers would greatly reduce the amount spent on overtime. According to Sobkowicz, the township spends between $80 and $100 per hour for overtime. A probationary officer would receive approximately $27 per hour, a significant savings.

She added that because so many police personnel are not working right now, it makes more financial sense to hire full-time probationary officers. "If two officers are out and you're paying overtime, it's not efficient to hire somebody," Sobkowicz said. "In the situation we're in, we're at half the force available to work at any one time. We don't have a choice."

The governing body has been investigating using an outside dispatching service, which Council Vice President Steve Cascio said could save the township "hundreds of thousands of dollars" in its police costs.

But setting it up takes time and Sobkowicz said the police need help now. "Really the most effective alternative to provide safety and security in the most efficient way right now is to hire police officers who have already completed the Academy," she said.

Choosing officers who put themselves through the Police Academy saves the township time, a six-month training period, money and Sobkowicz said also shows initiative on the part of the applicants.

Councilmen said safety is a top priority, but they also want to be fiscally responsible. They said they want to try to move to an outside dispatching system as quickly as possible to save money.