Boro is a tough sell for police change proposal

MILFORD — If there was anyone in the borough hall last Monday night who favored going to a new police force, they kept it to themselves. The June 2 gathering marked the second installment of a still ongoing public hearing for a proposal to disband the borough police and contract with the new Eastern Pike Regional Police Department. Much of the dissent about the proposal is related to the fate of long-time Milford Borough Police Chief Gary Williams. The new department is not automatically taking on former Milford police officers. They must re-apply. Williams is 57. “The chief will get his pension,” said council president Matt Osterberg. He said Williams’ situation had made the decision that much harder, “but we can’t let the chief determine what (the borough) is going to do.” “After 33 years,” Sonya Gatzke said, “it’s the saddest thing I’ve ever heard of.” “The voters are the boss. They should be heard,” said Tom Drew. Ironically, it was Williams attending amid the standing room audience, who probably came closest to endorsing the new department “I’m not against the Eastern Regional Police, I never have been,” he said; but he added that the borough would be wise to wait and look into it after the year-old department gets settled in. The department was formed by a combination of the former Westfall Township and Matamoras Borough departments. Financial questions arose, beyond Williams’ situation. This year, if Milford joins, the existing $275,000 borough budget would be its share, but apportionment of future department costs is less clear. Tom Mincer, the solicitor for new department strenuously denied any rumors about the department’s failure to meet its payroll. Bill Malson said the pressures of policing the “big box” stores in Westfall would prevent police from giving Milford’s stores the same kind of nighttime protection they get now. Cookie Astringer worried about the loss of autonomy. She said having the borough police nearby is “part of the charm,” of living here. She wanted to know what advantages the new department would bring. Other than Williams and one sergeant, Milford’s police are all part-timers. Bernice Williams criticized an Osterberg remark about past problems with part-timer officers, but her husband, Chief Williams admitted Osterberg was correct. Eastern Regional Chief Chad Stewart said full-time officers statistically are better officers, better trained, with better pay and benefits. As far losing people who know the borough intimately, Stewart said that three of his officers are from Milford, where the existing police station would be kept. Familiarizing all officers with the area is part of department training, he said. Unmoved by Stewart’s remarks, Tom Drew said, “I don’t care. I don’t want to see them go. I don’t always agree, but I don’t want to see them go.” Osterberg said the commission managing the new department has approved Milford’s joining, but now the Matamoras and Westfall municipal boards must approve. He said Milford would take no action until then. The hearing will continue on July 7.