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

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Safety concerns were raised by residents over the Bernards Township Police Station Lobby not being open and staffed 24/7 in case of emergencies.

Resident Todd Edelstein spoke at the Tuesday Township Committee meeting, raising 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 police.

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."

Edelstein said there used to be a button to press to speak to police under the sign, but now there is a plate covering that.

He added that there is no phone available to call if someone doesn't have a cell phone.

"That door needs to be open and access to somebody who has answers for them or help," said Edelstein.

He suggested the Police Subcommittee speak to Police Chief Timothy King about this, or to at least have a phone available.

"You can’t have nothing there because when somebody is (Edelstein hits podium with fist, gesturing someone banging on the door) 'Let me in! Somebody’s killing me! It’s not going to help," said Edelstein.

Committeewoman Ana Duarte McCarthy, along with Committeeman Andew McNally who serves on the Police Subcommittee, said they "will review the concern, as we do for matters residents raise at our meetings."

Mayor Janice Fields said this has been the practice at the police station for more than a decade.

"We haven’t had somebody in the police department for over 15 years, 24 hours. Those doors have been locked. What prompted you, after 15 years to think that we need it?" asked Fields.

Edelstein, who is a retired East Orange Police Officer, said this is not the first time he has mentioned it in 15 years. He said he has brought this up to the Township committee five or six times.

"I came from a busy police department, and I know other police departments that have doors open. Whether they have homeless people who camp there when it's freezing out or whether they have people who need facilities or who need help, that door is open," said Edelstein. "They may never see anybody come to the door. But the one person that you miss, or somebody wants to drop off a baby, and the law says they can just drop them off and leave anonymously. If that door is locked, who's going to know if there is a baby at that door?"

Resident Sue Trapp also concurred with Edelstein's comments. Trapp noted that she used to live in Cedar Grove, where they had a person at their station 24 hours.

"Hopefully, we can find some way of doing that," said Trapp. "It's important to have when you have vulnerable people in your community. No matter what it is, whether it's somebody who’s needing to report a crime or you have homeless, or whatever."

McNally said, "For all times within the memory of our longest-serving officers, police department headquarters itself has not been staffed during overnight hours (unless circumstances require them to be there). Instead, the officers on duty during the overnight shift are out on patrol, which we consider the highest and best use of their time during this shift. If a resident physically appears at police department headquarters during the overnight hours, they would have the ability to contact County dispatch (which is staffed at all times). There is a sign near the door of police headquarters that provides direction to residents about contacting dispatch."

Additionally, McNally added that is if residents need police assistance, they can dial 911 at any time in an emergency. In non-emergency situations, residents can use the non-emergency number (908-766-1122). There is a prompt when using the non-emergency line to be connected to dispatch if necessary.

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