HELMETTA — The Spotswood Police Department will soon provide police services for Helmetta.
During a meeting on April 18, members of the Borough Council adopted an ordinance that will disband the Helmetta Police Department effective April 30.
In a separate action, council members approved a contract for police services with Spotswood. The contract is for five years. In 2018, the prorated cost will be $461,017. In 2019, Helmetta will pay $605,000; in 2020, $610,000; in 2021, $615,000; in 2022, $620,000; and in 2023, $625,000.
Officials said the agreement with Spotswood will include police coverage, emergency medical services and dispatch. At present, Helmetta has a shared service agreement with Spotswood for EMS services at an annual cost of $15,000.
The governing body’s actions decision did not come without emotions. The small council chamber was filled with residents who came out to express their opinions and hear the council’s vote.
Helmetta Police Sgt. Harold Messler and officers Michael Baltazar and Eric Fritz were present for the vote. On April 3, the officers were given layoff notices.
Helmetta had an option to contract with the Jamesburg Police Department.
On a vote to contract with Spotswood, councilmen Ronald Dzingleski and Sewell Peckham, and Councilwoman Noreen Genthe voted “yes.” Councilmen Peter Karczewski, Joe Perez and Joseph Reid voted “no.”
Reid said regardless of how he was voting, his vote was not personal.
“I care a lot about this town,” he said, noting he is the fifth generation of his family to live in Helmetta. “I want to see what is best for our town. Spotswood and Jamesburg are excellent police departments.”
The 3-3 vote among council members left Mayor Chris Slavicek to cast the deciding vote. Slavicek voted “yes” on entering into the contract with Spotswood. The mayor said he is proud to be the leader of Helmetta.
“This was a really, really, really difficult seven months and I have to thank Pete (Karczewski) and Rob (Dzingleski) who worked tirelessly to negotiate contracts,” Slavicek said. “I think that while we have our personal opinions and we also know what our professional opinions are, outside this room we respect each other and we will be there for each other no matter what happens. We are friends and we are a community.”
Slavicek said that after given the issue much thought, he believed entering into the agreement with Spotswood would be the best decision for Helmetta. He said municipal officials will work diligently to manage the shared service with Spotswood.
After the council voted, the three Helmetta police officers received a standing ovation from those in attendance.
Slavicek had said that in a letter dated Aug. 2, 2017, Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey recommended that Helmetta officials explore opportunities with neighboring municipalities to consolidate the borough’s police services.
The mayor said the prosecutor’s office and the Spotswood and Jamesburg police departments provided Helmetta with manpower on an as needed basis while the borough’s police chief was on medical leave. The chief retired earlier this year, according to Slavicek.
As of April 18, Helmetta had paid out more than $75,000 for outside police coverage.
Slavicek said that under the terms of a shared service agreement, a minimum of one full-time police officer would be in Helmetta at all times. The borough’s population is 2,200 residents. Helmetta borders Spotswood and 291 children who live in town attend Spotswood public schools.
Contact Kathy Chang at kchang@newspapermediagroup.com.
