On behalf of the Medford Township Police Superior Officers Association I would like to encourage our residents to vote YES for the township referendum to increase the tax levy on April 27.
Last Friday, we were advised that four police officers, along with at least eight other municipal employees, were being laid off as part of the 2011 budget cuts. The Police division has already lost five officers to retirement, and will lose two more in the coming months. This will bring our total force down from 49 just over a year ago to a low of 38.
We have prided ourselves in being a very proactive and community oriented police department, providing numerous community oriented services including motor vehicle lockouts, house checks, bike patrols, child safety seat inspections, etc. With the decrease in manpower, many of these programs will have to be discontinued.
As an association we will continue to strive to provide the best service possible to our community. However, should this referendum not be approved police, fire, and public works services will experience drastic reductions in personnel which are in addition to the current planned lay-offs.
Additional cuts in personnel will change the police division from proactive policing to a reactive police force that simply takes reports and moves on to the next call with little chance to prevent crime. These extreme cuts will change the quality of life in Medford Township. At risk will be the safety of your family as well as the value of your home.
The cost to maintain many of the services you currently receive equates to around ninety cents a day for the average assessed home. Please vote yes to maintain our town and its services.
Sgt. Michael J. Seybold
President, Medford Twp. Police Superior Officers Association
