Police-coverage issue one worth studying

With a scaled-back force of just three full-time police officers, including the chief, it's high time that Helmetta takes a good look at its police department and how it can best serve the borough. Whether that means increasing manpower or turning police coverage over to another town, the issue needs to be examined. Mayor Nancy Martin said last week that she wants to do just that by arranging for studies to assess the current situation and the borough's options for the future.

The idea of dissolving the department and having a neighboring town's police force take over is a controversial one, as evidenced by the immediate protests that sprung up from some residents of Helmetta. Clearly, members of this community, like most others, value their police officers and prefer to have their own department.

But the police squad, with just three regular officers and two part-timers, is not adequately staffed to cover the town. As a result, Helmetta has for two years paid Jamesburg for third-shift coverage. The borough could return to having a fourth full-time officer or increase the ranks even further, and that may be the answer. On the other hand, it might be better in terms of cost and product if another, larger police department were to take over. That squad might be Jamesburg, given the current relationship, or it could be one of the towns that are contiguous to Helmetta - Spotswood, Monroe or East Brunswick.

The residents of Helmetta deserve the best police coverage they can get for their money, and that's why it is important not only to study the issue, but also to make sure the residents are fully informed of the town's options and that they have a strong say in this process. In fact, the borough should establish a committee of elected officials and residents to make a recommendation on the matter.

One of the issues that concerns us, however, is the fate of the borough's current police officers, including Chief Cully Lewis, who's served the community for 21 years. When asked last week about what would happen to these officers if the department is dissolved, Martin said she did not "want to go into the 'what ifs.' " We feel that these officers should be guaranteed a job with any department that takes over in Helmetta, should that occur. That department would likely have to be expanded anyway.

Despite the controversy surrounding the concept of a change in police coverage, this is an issue worth evaluating. Hopefully, the best option will become clear once the appropriate studies are produced and adequate public feedback is provided.