Council Leaders Lukewarm on County Police Force

While willing to listen to the plan when it's complete, it sounds like Council President Glen Bianchini and his colleagues would prefer to continue to have Gloucester Township patrolled by members of the Gloucester Township Police Department.

"I think you know how we feel about our police department," Bianchini told a resident during Monday night's Council meeting.

For those who do not normally attend Council meetings or follow the governing body in media: Its members are highly supportive of the police department headed by Chief W. Harry Earle.

As Council Vice President Orlando Mercado put it: "Council enables our police force to have the latest and greatest when it comes to technology in crime prevention and crime-solving."

Camden County announced last week it had reached agreement with Camden City officials to bring the troubled, cash-strapped city in as the first member of the county-run "Metro Division."

The city plans to dissolve its police force to accommodate the move. Only 49 percent of the city's current police department could be rehired under the county plan, according to county officials.

So, it would appear the freeholder board's plan is gaining some traction.

Camden City Council is slated to vote on the agreement tonight. Police union leaders have vowed a fight.

Mayor David Mayer previously told Patch he does not believe the countywide police force would be a fit in larger towns like Gloucester Township and Cherry Hill, but that the county's plan could include some viable shared-services arrangements for all of the county's 37 municipalities.

Bianchini offered up what could best be described as lukewarm support for a countywide police force—at least in terms of one coming to his township.

"As the mayor has stated many times, and we have (too), we will look at anything and everything," he said. "I think at this point we're waiting to see what the county comes up with, how it affects us, if it affects us and if it's the way to go."

Like Bianchini, Mercado was supportive of the township police force in the wake of a question by Ray Polidoro, an Erial resident who heads the township's Republican committee, about where Council members stand on the proposed county-run police force.

"We have an outstanding police force here, and I think it's a reflection of the leadership we have here in Gloucester Township, with Chief Earle and Deputy Chief (David) Harkins trickles down to our incoming patrol people," he said.

Bianchini and Mercado are seeking re-election this fall. They are joined on the Democratic ticket by Sam Siler Tracey Trotto.

Their opponents—Samuel Garro, Ted Liddell, Linda Musser and Erica Weissmann—joined GOP candidates from Cherry Hill in issuing a statement last week objecting to the plan for a countywide police force.

"It is not the responsibility (of) the two townships' taxpayers to provide funding, officers and equipment to bail out the communities who are unable to police themselves due to mismanagement of funds by their local politicians," the statement reads. "The times of mismanagement and misrepresenting the people have got to change. 

"The Cherry Hill and Gloucester Township Republican candidates are proud of their respective police forces and pledge to support local departments the way it is now, with local officers, local management and responsive departments."

The Democrats are proud, too, but are seemingly willing to remain at the county's table for the talks.

"The mayor and the chief have a seat at the table when these discussions are taking place, and I believe they have our best interests, the township's best interests when it comes to this discussion about a county regional police force," Mercado said.