Long-delayed Hoboken police audit recommends major staff cuts
 
February 22, 2010, Jersey Journal

Following a wait of several months, the operational audit of the Hoboken Police Department has now been released to the city. The audit makes recommendations for significant staffing cuts of approximately one-third of the force.

The report said the staffing needs for Hoboken Police Department are one chief, three captains, 12 lieutenants and 60 or 70 officers/detectives depending on the methodology applied. This determination reflects a staff reduction from 158 to 112 or 102 depending on the methodology applied, the report said.

Mayor Dawn Zimmer said she received the finalized audit from Division of Local Government Services Director Susan Jacobucci late Friday afternoon.

The report is intended to act as a blueprint for Zimmer, the City Council and the police department, offering recommendations with regard to staffing, operations, administration, fleet and facilities. The audit said that the police department should have periodic meetings to ensure the recommendations in this report are made in a timely manner.

The Hoboken Police Department audit said the DLGS staff found the department in need of consistent and reliable leadership, amended staffing numbers and technologically sufficient needs to meet Hoboken’s policing needs. The new positions of police chief and director of public safety were untested.

Zimmer said she grateful that the audit can now be made available to Hoboken’s government officials and to the public.

“I look forward to working with the public safety committee of the City Council, Public Safety Director Angel Alicea, Police Chief Anthony Falco and the DLGS to determine the best course of action to implement the recommendations contained within the report,” Zimmer said.

Falco told The Jersey Journal he will refrain from commenting until he has thoroughly read the 55-page document.

Zimmer had said Jacobucci told her she would have a final draft of the audit by Mon., Jan. 18, though that was not the case. In the interim, Zimmer and state-appointed Fiscal Monitor Judy Tripodi had only seen an August draft of the report, which they were not legally permitted to release.