Crime & Safety
Hoboken To Add 10 Police In Response To Safety Concerns
Hoboken will have 156 officers when the new police are hired, the city said. The mayor's critics reacted.
HOBOKEN, NJ — In response to safety concerns in Hoboken, including several unprovoked attacks on residents, the city announced Tuesday that it hopes to add 10 more police officers.
Mayor Ravi Bhalla and the City Council sub-committee on public safety announced a preliminary agreement to increase the Hoboken Police Department's Table of Organization (TO) from 146 to 156 officers.
The ordinance to expand the TO will be introduced at the City Council meeting on Dec. 4.The ordinance would go to a final reading at a subsequent meeting.
Find out what's happening in Hobokenfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The city referenced an attack at Church Square Park on Oct. 31 in which a local nanny and a man were injured. Troy Timberlake, 31, a repeat offender, was charged with assault. READ MORE: Hoboken Residents And Officials Meet About Park Attack
On Tuesday, four council members who have sometimes been critical of Bhalla's administration said they support the increase.
Find out what's happening in Hobokenfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Paul Presinzano, chair of the City Council Public Safety Subcommittee, said, “I am proud to have worked with our public safety leaders and secured the support from my City Council colleagues needed to expand the Hoboken Police Department by 10 officers and to have collaborated with the County to secure $100,000 in funding that can be used immediately to enhance security at Church Square Park. These efforts reflect our collective commitment to improving safety for all residents.”
Tiffanie Fisher, who also serves on the subcommittee, said, “I fully support expanding our police department this way to improve safety, and when these officers are deployed in the future, it’s important that they are deployed thoughtfully, focusing on the areas of greatest need like Church Square Park.
"However, we still need immediate steps to address our community’s concerns, and after recent meetings with public safety leaders, I am optimistic we’ll see meaningful changes soon.”
Next Meeting And Further Reading
A routine monthly CAPS public safety meeting will be held on Dec. 11 at the Hive, 1000 Park Ave. See details of that meeting here.
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