Viewpoints: SPF's Police Merger Proposal

This week, Patch unveiled the details of a proposal that would make Scotch Plains and Fanwood , if approved by a majority of the towns' respective mayors and councils

The plan, reportedly presented to the councils in April by the towns' two police chiefs, would make Fanwood Police Chief Richard Trigo the head of a merged department. Scotch Plains Police Chief Brian Mahoney would retire to be appointed to the civilian post of public safety director. Discussions of the proposal have been legally held in private because they deal with employment matters.

After decades of discussion whether to merge the police departments – or even consolidate Scotch Plains and Fanwood wholesale – a weakened economy and the need for creative cost-saving solutions has pushed the two towns closer than ever to consolidating their largest and most visible local agencies. 

Patch asked Viewpoints columnists Jeffrey Strauss and Tom Russo – both Scotch Plains residents – to take-up the police merger plan, and specifically the details revealed in Sunday's story. For the full story on the police merger proposal, . For Strauss and Russo's commentary, read on! Once you do, join the conversation by adding your comments and questions below.

Jeffrey Strauss: Tom, this is the most significant issue in town going forward, yet it has been discussed and studied ad nauseam over the years. I was on the Scotch Plains Township Council and the Shared Service Study Committee when the committee – Scotch Plains Mayor Nancy Malool and Fanwood Mayor Collen Mahr included – were discussing every manner of sharing town services and merger of departments. 

Consolidation of towns was specifically not on the table. But over the past year, the public sector looks at a weaker future and, as always, something has to be done. The biggest project would be to merge the police departments. It dwarfs all else. 

The plan discussed in the article is creative. It can work if there is resolve by both councils to have it work! The civil service issue has always been well known and can, when willing, be managed. There are many issues but I see the merger as inevitable, as do the mayors of each town. For that I applaud them. What are your thoughts on the issue?

Tom Russo: It is clear that the public wants government services to be more efficient and less costly. Sharing services and merging municipal departments makes sense so long as the level of services is maintained. 

We have come a long way in our thinking on these issues as a community. I remember participating in meetings on shared services just a few years ago when it was made clear that mergers of the police and the courts was not on the table. Now we have what appears to be a workable plan to merge police departments. 

The plan will be accepted by the public if there are assurances that emergency response times and the number of patrols will be maintained.

JS: This entire initiative is driven by the economics of the situation. The practicalities are overwhelming: Scotch Plains and Fanwood police rely upon each other now; the Scotch Plains police drive through Fanwood to travel between the north and south sides of the township, there is coverage from all ends for Fanwood. 

Frankly, I am puzzled why the majority of the current Fanwood Borough Council is disputing this inevitability. The issue should be to make it as seamless as possible, not whether it should be done! I do worry about statements that talk about getting “rid” of people, since it simply creates defensive postures and anger. But it seems that the eventual and inevitable reductions in force will be over time – by attrition.

I see it as the beginning of a long process and the savings, as I understand, will be minimal at first – but the key is that, over time, the benefits will increase and extend to other areas. What is your thought on savings? If it is limited for the first year or two do you still favor proceeding?

TR: The savings from a merger of police departments will result from both increased efficiencies and an eventual reduction in force. I agree

that this merger is inevitable. We have shared a school district for more than 80 years. Police protection is the next-greatest service that government provides. This merger can and should lead to shared services in other areas and merger of other municipal departments, such as the courts, parks and recreation, and public works. It may be a long process but this is the best place to start. 

I do like the idea of a civilian public safety director to help ease the transition to a fully merged police department. What do you think about that issue?

JS: I agree. It keeps Scotch Plains Police Chief Brian Mahoney involved, and it gives him at least a transitional role in moving along the process of township sharing.

The political will has to be there to get it started then as time goes on I have to believe that most will wonder why it took so long!