Police Station Lobby Options Being Explored In Basking Ridge

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Residents' concerns over the Police Station Lobby not being open 24/7 have prompted Bernards Township to look at ways to address the issue.

At the June 24 Township Committee meeting, some residents expressed concerns that the police station lobby was closed overnight, and there also wasn't a phone or button for anyone to be able to reach the police.

Commiteewoman and Liaison to the Police Ana Duarte McCarthy said she would look into the issue and provide an update during the July 29 Township Committee meeting.

"As promised, we followed up... We confirmed the lobby had not been open 24/7 in at least the last 25 years that Chief [Timothy] King can recall. To staff the lobby, just to give some perspective and maintain the current ratios of officers on patrol, we either need to hire new officers or, without hiring pull someone off patrol where they are needed," said McCarthy.

Currently, the lobby is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. A sign is posted outside the lobby doors stating, "If door is locked, dial 908-766-1122, press 0 to speak with dispatcher."

At the previous Committee meeting, Resident Todd Edelstein raised concerns that there wasn't a phone or button for anyone to be able to reach police at the station. He said there used to be a button to press to speak to the police under the sign, but now there is a plate covering that.

McCarthy said at the July 29 meeting that she looked into the phone issue and found that "servicing was unreliable, and people from time to time were using it for nonemergency reasons."

"However, despite that, the department will be looking in conjunction with the Township Committee into other potential ways to address this issue. Looking at what other municipalities are doing and potentially exploring whether it's an emergency button or a new type of phone," said McCarthy. "We will keep you posted on that exploration, and we appreciate that this feedback was provided."

Related: Residents Call For Police Station Lobby To Be Open 24/7 In Basking Ridge

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