Article published Apr 16, 2008 Chief wants out of schools
By BEN MERITT Staff Writer bmeritt@thehammontonnews.com
HAMMONTON -- Citing a continuing lack of manpower, Hammonton Police Chief Frank Ingemi last week announced intentions to pull two officers out of service from two public schools here and to make other cutbacks in extra duties.
Ingemi said he plans on removing the school resource officer currently located at Hammonton High School and Hammonton Middle School beginning in September.
Ingemi outlined his intentions in a letter dated April 8 to town clerk/ad-ministrator Susanne Oddo.
Ingemi's overtime account in the town's temporary budget has already been exhausted, and the chief said he was seeking $100,000 for overtime in the town's final budget for the year.
"It is an impossibility to run any shift with only three men. Safety must always be a top priority and this is one of the reasons for the exhaustion of the overtime budget," Ingemi said. "Please consider I am trying to adjust for schooling, training, vacations, men on sick leave, workmen's compensation and also an administrative leave."
In addition to pulling out the two resource officers, whose salaries are paid by the school district, Ingemi announced that his officers "will be unable to participate in any extra duties," such as providing a presence at such events as the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Celebration in July.
Ingemi has balked at a proposal to provide comp time to his officers for working the extra hours.
"I firmly believe that comp time is not the solution to our problems due to the fact that we are unable to give back this extra time to the officers," Ingemi said. "I regret that this type of action has to be implemented, but I have no other recourse."
Hammonton Superintendent of Schools Mary Lou DeFrancisco said the removal of the officers is something she hopes doesn't take place.
"They are a valuable part of our school community," DeFrancisco said.
Last week's announcement comes after a report last October prepared by the state Division of Criminal Justice stated the police department here needed eight more officers.
"I'm not saying we need eight men tomorrow but we do need to see some increases," Ingemi said after the report was issued. The influx of eight officers would come with an estimated cost of $500,000, including salaries and benefits and other costs.
Councilman Anthony Marino said the town must add additional officers to the force, which now numbers about 30.
"Enough is enough. I don't want to have to raise taxes, but it's going to come down to someone getting hurt here," said Marino, a former police officer in Winslow Township.
Ingemi did not respond for further requests for comment.
The town's budget hearing is set for April 28, at which time the decision to add any additional officers for this year would be set.
We have heard the town stands to loose 230,000.00 from their budget? The question is, this funding figured in the 2008 town budget. if so they are now going to be 3 cents short? How will those FOC'ers deal with this now? Isn't the chief in charge? can Council force him to put men there? This entire thing is bull.Its' a game to see whose is bigger.The games we play, its sad for the school , because if something does happen they will all then point fingers at everyone else, instead of looking at the mirror.
The Hammonton News explained the school is already paying for the officers. So the Chief has the money to supply them. Pulling them out makes no sense.
We have heard the town stands to loose 230,000.00 from their budget? The question is, this funding figured in the 2008 town budget. if so they are now going to be 3 cents short? How will those FOC'ers deal with this now? Isn't the chief in charge? can Council force him to put men there? This entire thing is bull.Its' a game to see whose is bigger.The games we play, its sad for the school , because if something does happen they will all then point fingers at everyone else, instead of looking at the mirror.
no no no . the school pays for the cops. if the cops don't go the school won't pay. so the police budget will get reduced by 230,000. still no tax shortage. who runs the town , this debate will go on forever. it sounds like old mike is back at the police station.
