Two Freeholders Plan ‘Listening Tour’ on County Police Merger

Bergen County Democratic Freeholders David Ganz and Joan Voss Monday announced plans for what they called a “public listening tour” in Bergen County intended to “take the pulse of the people” on a potential referendum on the question of .

“Picking up on a suggestion from Sheriff Michael Saudino, I think we need to also seek the opinion of all sworn police officers as to merging the County Police with the Sheriff’s Department,” Ganz said in a statement.

Voss said the two freeholders “also want to know what the people think,” noting that the she and Ganz have been unsuccessful in their attempts to “persuade” their Republican counterparts on the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders to put a referendum before "the people."

“We are going to ask the people to come to us,” Voss said.

Last week Voss and Ganz for a public referendum on county police consolidation with an Aug. 17 filing deadline for ballot questions approaching, but both have said they are undecided on whether they support a merger, unlike County Executive Kathleen Donovan, who has said she is against merging the two departments, and that a referendum can’t go forward without her approval.

County Administrator Ed Trawinski has criticized Ganz in particular for calling for a referendum after denouncing as a “cheap political ploy” a 2005 referendum on the issue of building a $47 million county police building in Hackensack, something Republican Elizabeth Randall, a freeholder at the time, had called for, NorthJersey.com reported.

Ganz however contends that the two are not related, saying a referendum wasn’t needed on the construction of a county police building, but that “with something as fundamental as eliminating the county police,” he wants to hear “what the people have to say,” according to the report.

Voss and Ganz said this week that they are asking municipalities to use their council chambers or courtrooms for a series of Bergen County meetings with citizens, law enforcement professionals and local PBAs.

Voss also emphasized that the freeholders need to know where police officers stand on the question of merging the two law enforcement agencies.

“It will help us evaluate how this important issued should be resolved,” Voss said.

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