| Author | Message | ||
     Katie Clayton Citizen Username: Grovykndofluv Post Number: 33 Registered: 2-2004 |
i really hope he's reading this right now!  | ||
| M. Scott Citizen Username: Villageidiot Post Number: 30 Registered: 12-2003 |
I asked a friend who works with Maplewood's Police Department and this is getting blown out of proportion from what he told me. A fight occured outside of the grille in the rear of the building and the crowds leaving all the closing bars gathered. The Maplewood Police Department was called to assist the SOPD. Additionally the ESSEX-UNION AUTO THEFT TASK FORCE (not the Essex Gang Task Force) working in Vailsburg responded to assist when hearing the call for help over the police radios to assist the understaffed South Orange Police in dispersing the crowd. (DIDN'T I RECOMMEND HAVING COPS WALK THE BAR DISTRICT AT THE COST OF THE BUSINESSES A MONTH OR SO BACK???). If everyone is so interested then contact the South Orange Police Administrators or wait for the notice in the News Record to come out...it couldn't have been that bad, the alleged injured didn't even leave in an ambulance. | ||
| M. Scott Citizen Username: Villageidiot Post Number: 32 Registered: 12-2003 |
While were talking about bars...How about that DWI-accident on Valley St last week(It's in the NewsRecord)...SHU STUDENT COMING FROM CRYANS...FYI ALSO AN EMPLOYEE OF THAT BAR from what the bartender said. He's lucky he didn't kill anyone or someone in the car. | ||
| Pippi Citizen Username: Pippi Post Number: 34 Registered: 8-2003 |
I didn't hear about that accident... where on Valley? | ||
| tjr542 Citizen Username: Tjr542 Post Number: 1 Registered: 2-2004 |
M. Scott is right, it was a fight which maplewood and the ATTF came to assist with. The croud numbered aroud 40-50 people. All may not have been involved but they were still there gathering around the action. The SOPD only had four officers working that nigh, like most nights and days. One officer for 10 excited bar goers is clearly not enough. South Orange Police are good but nobody can handle those odds. Yes also one person was injured, I do not know the extent, his/her friends took them too the hospital before the police were even able to disperse everyone and before the ambulance got there. As for the police walking the bar area may be a good idea but you must know that there are only around 35 patrolmen/women on the police force. Far to few in order to keep the roudy bar crouds in line. They are already overworked. Four officers per shift sometimes five is not enough for the growing population in this town. They do give those areas extra attention but with their manpower it would be hard regardless of who is paying for it. Marc.... What is the Warren report? As for where I get my info, I know some of the officers in the SOPD. I here first hand how short there manpower is and how sometimes the go on jobs without backup due to shortages. | ||
| Mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 840 Registered: 5-2001  |
Wow...even I feel old now....The Warren Report was the "official" report on the assasination of JFK: http://www.bergen.org/jfk/warren.html | ||
| kathy Citizen Username: Kathy Post Number: 763 Registered: 5-2001 |
I thought that there were over 50 officers on the SO police force. How can only 4 or 5 be on duty at a time? Do they only work one day a week?? | ||
| just me fromsouthorange Citizen Username: Jmfromsorange Post Number: 106 Registered: 7-2003 |
hi mary- i wasn't saying 'nerve' as a good thing. i meant it as 'who the he double hockey sticks' do they think they are. and i agree with your comment 100% ---------------- mary032 Citizen Username: Mary032 Post Number: 31 Registered: 8-2001 Posted on Tuesday, February 24, 2004 - 4:37 pm: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- justme, whoever called katie doesn't have "a lot of nerve" as you say. S/he is a gutless, brainless individual with no nerve at all. If s/he had any of the above s/he wouldn't call Katie, s/he would post his/her opinion here, like the rest of us. | ||
| Brett Citizen Username: Bmalibashksa Post Number: 762 Registered: 7-2003 |
Tjr542: The number of people that you stated sounds a little high to me. I only recall about 20, 30 Max. It’s still a large number of people if they were all participating. But there were only about a 10 people close to the fight, it wasn’t a riot. Once the police cars pulled up people started to disperse right away. Still it’s better safe then sorry I guess. The accident on valley happened right in front of the pizza place by the Path Mart. There were 4 people in the car. The employee of Cryans owned (maybe it was his parents) the car, but was not driving. The driver hit a parked car and then jumped the curb and hitting one of those news paper boxes. This happened late on Saturday (12:00-1:00?) No one was hurt. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 1015 Registered: 4-2002 |
Kathy: There are three shifts a day and seven days a week. Assume 54 officers (there a couple more but at least one person will be on vacation). More officers are needed during the day time than at night. At least one needs to be at the Police Station. There will be never be 50 officers on duty at one time. The fire departments and police departments from the various towns help each other out. So to answer your question each officer works about 40 hours a week. | ||
| bobk Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 4772 Registered: 5-2001 |
Out of 50 officers probably 15 are either superior officers (Lt. Capt. Deputy Chief, Chief)or detectives who aren't on patrol. Cops work five day weeks so on any given day 2/7th (28%) are off duty. I believe the police get 30 days vacation a year so another 8% are on vacation. This leaves around 22 officers available for patrol, or seven a shift in a three platoon department. As Mark indicates different shifts need different manning levels. I don't have staffing info on the SO force. However, I worked up similar numbers for the MPD in connection with the new police station debate. | ||
| M. Scott Citizen Username: Villageidiot Post Number: 33 Registered: 12-2003 |
From what I know the majority of South Orange Officers who do uniformed patrol work the 4x4 schedule having 4 days of work then 4 days off. I know they do not work a full twelve hours so I assume there must be more then two shifts a day....Estimating Bob's and TJR's numbers that would give you about 5 to 6 on each shift X's 6 shifts, 3 shifts for each of the 4 work days...about 30 in patrol i'm assuming. The rest are probably Detectives or other functions....HOWEVER I KNOW FOR A FACT THEY DON'T HAVE ANYBODY ASSIGNED TO A TRAFFIC FUNCTION BECAUSE WE DISCUSSED THAT A WHILE BACK. WHEN YOU CALL THAT EXTENSION AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS YOU GET THE CAPTAIN'S OFFICES. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 1016 Registered: 4-2002 |
M. Scott: You are still wrong. There is no specific traffic unit, however there ARE officers that are assigned to deal with traffic issues. Just because you repeat misinformation (and with caps for emphasis) does not make it so. As I told you before if you think my information is wrong then come to a public safety meeting and have the discussion with our Police Director so he can explain how the department works. | ||
| M. Scott Citizen Username: Villageidiot Post Number: 35 Registered: 12-2003 |
All I am stating Mr. Rosner is that I specifically looked at the Village's website and see a contact number for the "TRAFFIC BUREAU". HERE IS THE SPECIFIC PASTED INFORMATION FROM THE VILLAGE WEBSITE: TRAFFIC BUREAU The Traffic Bureau is comprised of officers with specialized training in radar enforcement, DWI patrols and investigations, local and state motor vehicle regulations, and the overall monitoring of traffic flow. The bureau provides traffic enforcement and patrol assistance 7 days a week and maintains records of summons activity for long-term planning and court testimony. Traffic officers have also applied for and received grant money for special projects such as radar, DWI and seat-belt enforcement. This bureau also monitors the towing and impound of vehicles by the South Orange Police for any reason. Residents may contact the Traffic Bureau and leave a message at 378-7839 to report continuing hazardous conditions such as speeding, illegal turning or failure to yield to pedestrians at Village crosswalks. NOW I ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THIS PHANTOM BUREAU TWICE AND THEN ONCE AFTER YOUR ORIGINAL COMMENTS TO ME. I WAS SPECIFICALLY TOLD EACH TIME BY THE INDIVIDUAL WHO ANSWERED THE PHONE AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS WHO WAS IDENTIFIED AS A DISPATCHER AND THEN AN ID #: "SIR, WE DON'T HAVE A TRAFFIC BUREAU ANYMORE...I CAN CONNECT YOU WITH THE PATROL CAPTAIN'S EXTENSION IF YOU LIKE?" Mr. Rosner...I think you should try and call the PD and ask for the traffic bureau and see what response is given...because they are pretty convincing when they specifically tell you there is no traffic bureau in the Village Police Department. I agree with you that there is some random enforcement around town, but lets not mislead residents on the official village website with a pretend police bureau. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 1017 Registered: 4-2002 |
I will try one more time. I did NOT say there is a traffic bureau. I stated that there are officers that are assigned to deal with traffic issues (including radar). You are the one misleading the public by stating that there is no traffic enforcement. In addittion all officers are expected to enforce all traffic laws and if they see someone breaking a law, it is expected by the village that they will enforce the law. I will ask the Police Director to update his portion of the web page. | ||
| Dave Citizen Username: Dave Post Number: 6454 Registered: 4-1998  |
The dancing cop is a traffic bureau unto himself. No matter what kind of day I'm having it's always a pleasure to drive through the Valley/Scotland/S.O. Ave intersection. | ||
| M. Scott Citizen Username: Villageidiot Post Number: 36 Registered: 12-2003 |
Mr Rosner, I give you credit your ontop of this Message Board better then anyone, and you really do get involved with the topics which I think is a credit to your volunteerism toward this Village. Okay...but we can agree that the website is misleading and leads you to believe there are several officers assigned to just traffic, It does need updating? I did review your post and you did state "There is no specific traffic unit". I do agree with you when you say they are doing enforcement there is some enforcement around town noticable, but not like other aggressive towns, I understand that we are in a fiscal crunch and balancing staffing levels and keeping taxes in check is a difficult task and you cannot please every idiot who says to spend more money just because. BUT TO EVERYONE: If you check around at other comparable towns they all have seperate traffic bureaus...As far as police websites go for local departments all report to have traffic bureaus...Wouldn't a unit like that increase police visibility, enforcement, and deter aggressive driving, along with crime. South Orange is a town with major secondary roads (SCOTLAND, VALLEY, S.O. AV, CENTRE, IRVINGTON, RIDGEWOOD, WYOMING) We have a great deal of "crossing through" traffic, most of our streets have a LOW speed limit, and we are a town that encourages and has a great deal of pedestrian traffic with children walking to school, the Jespy House, and SHU students wondering around. AM I THE ONLY ONE THAT THINKS THIS SHOULD BE A PRIORITY FOR MORE THEN WHAT WE HAVE NOW, THE POLICE DID A GREAT JOB WITH REDUCING ACTUAL CRIMES AS REPORTED BY THE VILLAGE WEBSITE, I THINK WE SHOULD MOVE ON TO OTHER PROBLEM AREAS IF THAT IS THE CASE ie TRAFFIC, QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES? Also, I see it beneficial for the town as both a crime deterent having more visible cops and for $$$ income as I assume the Village would keep a portion of generated court fines that a traffic unit could generate (I MUST ADMIT YOU HAVE SOME OF MY MONEY FROM A TRAFFIC STOP A YEAR AGO). Assigning officers to just traffic or hiring a few additional officers would pay for themselves or at least a portion of the first few years of salary. That shouldn't be a stretch for the Village who starts the cops at 24,000 (ISN'T THAT A LITTLE TIGHT IN THE PURSE FOR 2004?) I thought of taking the police exam this year but when I heard the salaries, I didn't think I could ever take that kind of paycut and keep my apartment here in town. OFF TOPIC I GIVE ANYONE A GREAT DEAL OF GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION TO TAKE THAT JOB FOR ONLY 11.51 AN HOUR, CONSIDERING YOU COULD LOOSE YOUR LIFE. | ||
| M. Scott Citizen Username: Villageidiot Post Number: 37 Registered: 12-2003 |
The Dancing Cop is not a cop...The Star Ledger did a story on Butch Larkin a year or two ago...He is by all means an asset to that intersection in the morning, however He is only a traffic control officer. Butch did retire from the Village PD I assume in the mid to late 1980's I can't recall I've only spoken to him briefly on occassion. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 1019 Registered: 4-2002 |
M. Scott: If the Police Director thinks or reccomends that we go the route of a traffic Bureau, then the BOT will consider and take appropiate action. | ||
| M. Scott Citizen Username: Villageidiot Post Number: 38 Registered: 12-2003 |
I'll contact the police director or attend a public safety meeting to voice my concern, (as you recommended before). |
