Berkeley Heights could add six positions to its police department Tuesday, Sept. 15, and residents still have no public accounting of what the expansion would cost.
Ordinance 2026-19, scheduled for a final adoption vote at the Town Council meeting, would authorize one deputy chief, one additional lieutenant and four additional patrol officers for the Berkeley Heights Police Department. The deputy chief would be a newly created rank. The ordinance would also raise the authorized lieutenant ceiling from two to three and the patrol officer ceiling from 17 to 21, according to NJ21st.
As of Thursday, Sept. 10, the agenda packet contained no separate fiscal impact statement and no needs assessment supporting the expansion.
The ordinance changes the department's authorized structure but does not require the township to fill all six positions immediately. No hiring schedule is included.
Ordinance has drawn public pushback since July
The measure first appeared on the council agenda in July and has been a flashpoint since. The expansion was described at the July meeting as part of a five-year plan, but no such document has been released publicly.
At the July 21 Town Council meeting, former councilwoman Jeanne Kingsley, who served 12 years on the governing body, spoke against the proposal during public comment.
"With any increase in jobs or staff, there should be evidence and data illustrating the need beyond it simply being a want or desire," Kingsley said at the July 21 meeting, as reported by NJ21st.
Former Mayor Bob Woodruff also spoke against the ordinance at that meeting. Several council members were reminded to calm down during the session.
The justification offered at the July meeting amounted to the department not having added positions in a long time, questions raised during an accreditation meeting and a conference, according to NJ21st. The accreditation body was not named in public records.
What the ordinance would change
Under the ordinance, the deputy chief would serve as second in command, responsible for assisting the police chief with administration, operations and supervision. When the chief is absent, the deputy chief would act with the same authority.
The police chief would recommend candidates and the mayor would appoint by executive order. The ordinance adds the deputy chief position to that existing appointment process.
The measure also expands the chief's authority to waive the college requirement for some applicants. It would extend that waiver to those who meet the Police Training Commission's minimum education requirements for the Alternate Route Program.
Special Law Enforcement Officers would be expressly included in the department's authorized structure for the first time.
Vote was tabled once before
The ordinance was tabled at the August meeting, where it had also been scheduled for a final vote. NJ21st noted the upcoming vote is contingent, given that history.
The agenda also includes a police department re-accreditation item listed as a conference session, with little explanation or supporting documentation attached.
No council member has been quoted on the record defending the ordinance or explaining the rationale for the vote. Residents can direct questions to Mayor Angie Devanney, Township Administrator Liza Viana or any council member before the meeting.
