Brick Plans to Hire More Special Police Officers

The Brick Township council unanimously voted Tuesday to introduce an ordinance increasing the maximum number of special police officers the township is able to employ from 15 to 20.

The increase in the number of special officers – who are not hired under the department's collective bargaining agreement and are not full-time, sworn officers – is part of Mayor John Ducey's 100 day plan to rein in spending.

The special officers will be utilized primarily for two purposes, Ducey said: in the municipal courtroom and in the booking process at the police department. Currently, officers manning the court room are regular officers being paid overtime for the extra duty, Ducey said.

"Rather than have regular police officers earning overtime, that position is going to be filled by special officers," said Ducey.

As it currently stands, according to Ducey, when a full time officer arrests a suspect, he or she must complete the booking paperwork before returning to the street. Under the new system, special officers will take care of the paperwork.

"An officer will be able to make an arrest and drop the criminal off here and get back on the street," the mayor said.

The move will save money since officers who make arrests near the end of their shifts are normally paid overtime to stay an extra hour or more filling out the booking paperwork.

The ordinance is subject to a public hearing and second vote before it is adopted. Normally, ordinances are adopted at the next scheduled meeting after they are introduced.