I would contact your councilperson to address the issue, or you can attend one of the Captain's meetings for your local district.

However, due to the dwindling manpower, more foot or bike patrols seem unlikely seeing as how at times the JCPD barely has the manpower to outfit minimum staffing for vehicular patrols.

The Jersey City Police Officers Benevolent Association (JCPOBA) today questioned the use of more than $2.5 million in federal funds intended to reduce the cost of health care for early retirees. According to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services managed website, the funds, appropriated by The Affordable Care Act, ?provide financial assistance to employers unions and state and local governments to help them maintain coverage for early retires up to age 55 and older who are not yet eligible for Medicare. Employers, unions and governments can use the savings to reduce their own health care costs, provide premium workers to their workers and families, or both.? However, an Open Public Records Act request shows funds awarded from this program were deposited into a miscellaneous revenue account ?to offset any revenue that projects to come in less than anticipated or any unanticipated appropriation in the CY2011 budget.?

?The Business Administrator Jack Kelly and Council President Peter Brennan are quick to kick the can down the road when it comes to dealing with the issues facing our City,? said Jerry DeCicco, President of the JCPOBA. ?Too many laborers approaching the end of their career were laid off due to circumstances beyond their control, and are concerned about keeping their families insured in the event of a medical crisis. These federal funds were meant to keep these men and women insured, not as a one-time budget gimmick for this Administration. Due to this City?s history of fiscal mismanagement, our union believes the residents of Jersey City would be best served by a public hearing on this matter, and I sincerely hope our City Council agrees.?

The JCPOBA has reviewed federal guidance documents (http://www.errp.gov/about_errp.shtml) on the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program (ERRP) and believes there are questions involving the proper use of these federal grant funds. A public hearing on the issue can better clarify for residents whether or not the Business Administrator Jack Kelly and Council President Peter Brennan aren?t administering these public funds in the proper and/or best possible way.

The ERRP intends to help reduce this burden and keep families insured during these tough economic times. According to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), a grant recipient cannot use the funds as general revenue, but may use the funds:

(1) To reduce the sponsor?s health benefit premiums or health benefit costs,
(2) To reduce health benefit premium contributions, copayments, deductibles, coinsurance, or other out - of-pocket costs, or any combination of these costs, for plan participants, or
(3) to reduce any combination of the costs specified in (1) and (2).

To obtain additional information or source documents on this federal grant, please e-mail Jerry DeCicco at jcpoba200@aol.com.

I don't see what that has to do with JC.

The DPW and JCPD did everything possible to remove snow. There was no slow down here.

Let's keep things in perspective please.

You're probably correct about the "Sgt Shultz" rule of enforcement.

Believe it or not, for the exception of deputy chiefs, the JCPD actually ISN'T top heavy.

There hasn't been a promotion since 2007.

But your right, supervisors should still be trimmed before front-line (workforce)

Thank you for your warm wishes.

Happy New Year

Charon,

The JCPD IS willing to accept a pay lag. The problem with the uniform allowance is that 6 months ago the JCPD gave concessions worth over $6 million.

How can we know the the city won't come back 6 months from now and ask for more?

When is enough enough?

I love that idea! Call the Mayor's office to suggest it.

Not fearmongering, but fact.

According to the Star-Ledger, violent crime in Newark has risen 32% since the layoffs.

Most certainly not wishful thinking either.


Thank you for your comment.

Happy New Year.

JERSEY CITY, NJ, DECEMBER 30, 2010: As 82 officers received their dismissal notices today, JC POBA President; Jerry Decicco met with city officials to discuss possible solutions to avert the pending dismissal. One of the suggestions which city officials rebuffed was earmarking $906,000 for the police budget from the recent $2.8 million sale from an ordinance consenting to the sale and assignment of the tax exemption and financial agreement from Essex Waterfront Urban Renewal Entity, LLC, to Liberty Towers Urban Renewal, LLC, pursuant to Section 9.1 of the financial agreement and the Long Term Exemption Law N.J.S.A.40A:20-1 et seq. City officials refused to disclose to the JC POBA what they intend to use the money for other than implying that the money would be deposited into the General Fund.

The city also intends to demote several Captains and Lieutenants after promoting four Inspectors to the rank of Deputy Chief. A move that the city argues will save the department money but has devastated morale across the police department.

The JC POBA has agreed to have its membership vote on the pay lag city officials have asked for which would save the city $3.4 millions dollars. ?All we?re asking from the Mayor is to do his part and meet us half-way. We are determined to find a solution that will keep 82 police officers protecting Jersey City, but if this administration remains stonewalled, they are condemning Jersey City to the fate we are seeing in other cities, like Newark, that have reduced their police department and are now suffering a major spike in violent crimes.?

JERSEY CITY, NJ, DECEMBER 30, 2010: 82 recently hired police officers will receive their official notices today from the City of Jersey City announcing their last day of employment will be February 15, 2011. Approximately 2 Captains and 4 Lieutenants will also receive notice that their promotions will be rescinded effective February 15, 2010. The city intends to reduce the police force unless it can close a $900,000 gap in the police budget.

The Jersey City PBA is working closely with city officials to find a solution in order to avoid any layoffs. Jerry Dicicco has told city officials, ?We remain open to suggestions and we will continue to offer sound revenue generating solutions that can address the budget deficit faster than laying off police officers, we can only hope for the administrations cooperation.

And for the record, I do own my home in Jersey City.

100% of the officers getting fired live in Jersey City.

*********CIVIC RALLY***********
- DECEMBER 15, 2010 4:30pm @ CITY HALL -

- ALL JERSEY CITY RESIDENTS WELCOME -

Show your support for Jersey City and come out to let Mayor Healy and our City Council know that you refuse to allow them to let our streets fall prey to crime and decay.

www.keepjerseycitysafe.com

There will be no show. Come out and show your support, but please leave the torches and pitchforks at home.

We are professionals and we will conduct ourselves accordingly.

This will be a civilized public demonstration informing this administration and the community at large our vehement opposition to the proposed layoff of the men and women of the Jersey City Police Department and the compromise of our city?s public safety which leave the residents of this city vulnerable to victimization.

PLEASE COPY AND EMAIL THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE TO THE JC COUNCIL AND MAYOR OPPOSING POLICE LAYOFFS (EMAILS INCLUDED AT THE END OF MESSAGE)

I wish to convey my opposition to the proposed police layoffs in hopes of achieving results that will better serve the residents, businesses, and guests of Jersey City.

Mayor Jerramiah Healy credited the crime decrease between 2008 and 2009 to the ?ongoing efforts of the Jersey City Police Department? and said it will persist into the future as long as he is mayor.

As stewards of Jersey City, reducing the police force is negating on this promise and puts the safety and reputation of Jersey City at risk, which is a consequence that is unacceptable.

I implore this administration to reconsider laying off police officers and explore other options that will not compromise the safety and security of Jersey City.

(Your name here)

BrennanP@jcnj.org, FloodW@jcnj.org, rayvelazquezjr@gmail.com, SottolanoM@jcnj.org, DonnellyD@jcnj.org, NLopez@jcnj.org, bgaughan@hcnj.us, FulopS@jcnj.org, RichardsonV@jcnj.org, MayorHealy@jcnj.org

No one is arguing about being underpaid. I think at this level, we are duly compensated.

If you're ill about our benefit package, I invite you to take the civil service test.

Best of luck.

Sadly, public safety seems to always bear the brunt of animosity and is the onus of government despondency.

The age-old mantra of ?police make too much? for so long (and too long) has been cried.

The attraction to becoming a police officer or fire fighter because of its benefits should not be surprising or admonished. Are there any doctors, attornery, brokers reading this? Many of us chose professions outside of public safety for the very same reason!

Prior to becoming a police officer, I was a consultant for a prominent firm after having earned my MBA from Columbia University. I chose this profession because of its lucrative benefits. As the possibility of downsizing was on the horizon at my firm, I decided to fulfill a childhood dream and pursue a career as a police officer, taking a substantial reduction in pay, but with the promise of job security.

The benefits of policing may seem overly generous and even undeserving; however I challenge you to ask yourself, would you do the job for the same pay? Furthermore, lowering the pay or stripping the (few) benefits afforded to public safety will only reduce the hiring standards because no (qualified) individual will subject themselves to the harsh and hostile working conditions as they are today for miserly compensation.

You only need to look at the NYPD to see evidence of my argument. Because of their poor compensation, they are forced to lower their hiring standards and hire in droves because of attrition but more importantly, termination for cause.

You may think that police do nothing?just go out and purchase a scanner and listen for yourself just what?s going on in your district. I bet you?ll think differently once you hear just how busy (and depending on the call) just how scary policing is.

?A policeman is a composite of what all men are... a mingling of saint and sinners... dust and deity. Cold statistics wave the fan over the stinkers...underscore instances of dishonesty and brutality because they are news.

What that REALLY means is they are exceptional, unusual - not commonplace. Buried under the froth is the fact that less than one half of one percent of policemen misfit that uniform. And that's a better average than among clergymen.

What is a policeman made of. He of all men is at one the most needed and the most unwanted... a strangely nameless creature who is "sir" to his face... and "pig" to his back.

He must be such a diplomat that he can settle differences between individuals... so that each will think he won... But if the policeman is neat, he's a flirt. If he's not, he's a grouch.

In an instant he must make decisions which require months for a lawyer. But if he hurries, he's careless. If he's deliberate, he's lazy. He must be first to an accident... infallible with a diagnosis... he must be able to start breathing, stop bleeding, tie splints and above all be sure the victim goes home without a limp, or expect to be sued.

The police officer must know every gun... draw on the run... and hit where it doesn't hurt. He must be able to whip two men his size and half his age....without damaging his uniform and without being brutal. If you hit him, he's a coward. If he hits you, he's a bully.

A policeman must know everything and not tell. He must know where all the sin is and not partake.

The policeman must, from a single human hair, be able to describe the crime, the weapon and the criminal.. and tell you where the criminal is hiding. But if he catches the criminal he's lucky... if he doesn't he's a dunce. If he gets promoted he has political pull. If he doesn't he's a dullard.

The policeman must chase bum leads to a dead end and stake out ten nights to tag one witness who saw it happen, but refused to remember.

He runs files and writes reports until his eyes ache to build a case against some felon who will get dealed out by a shameless shamus or an honorable who isn't.

A policeman must be a minister... social worker... a diplomat... a tough guy... and a gentleman.

And of course he will have to be a genius... for he will have to feed a family on a policeman's salary.?

-Author Unknown