Westfield Police Increases Presence At Various Traffic Spots This Week

WESTFIELD, NJ — Starting Tuesday, Westfield Police Department announced it will increase its presence at various intersections in town this week.

In response to "various complaints," Westfield Police wrote on Facebook that its Police Traffic Safety Bureau will be conducting High Visibility Enforcement (HiVE) at various locations and prescribed times within the town.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, High Visibility Enforcement is a universal traffic safety approach designed to create deterrence and change unlawful traffic behaviors. This approach combines highly visible and proactive law enforcement targeting a specific traffic safety issue.

Below are the areas/times Westfield will have increased police presence:

Tuesday, June 14

• Rahway Avenue & Dorian Road: 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
• Sycamore Street: 7:45 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
• Rahway Avenue & West Grove Street: 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
• Central Avenue & Sycamore Street (Clifton Street): 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Wednesday, June 15

• Rahway Avenue & West Grove Street: 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
• East Broad Street: 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
• Rahway Avenue & Dorian Road: 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
• Prospect Street: 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Thursday, June 16

• Rahway Avenue & Dorian Road: 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
• Mountain Avenue: 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
• Rahway Avenue & West Grove Street: 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
• West Broad Street: 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Friday, June 17

• Rahway Avenue & West Grove Street: 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
• Lawrence Avenue: 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Unrelated to this announcement, Mayor Shelley Brindle has reported in recent updates that the town is facing a crossing guard shortage, which impacts some of the streets mentioned above.

Brindle said this shortage is due to labor shortages and COVID infections. Chief Battiloro said in order to preserve sufficient police staffing levels for ongoing public safety needs and unanticipated emergencies, the town is focuses its available resources on areas with the highest pedestrian volume which are the closest to the schools.

The following posts will be unstaffed for the remaining two weeks of the school year:

• Elm Street/Walnut Street
• East Dudley Avenue/Lawrence Avenue
• Kimball Avenue/Mountain Avenue
• Boulevard/Clifton Street
• Boulevard/Park Street
• Boulevard/West Grove Street
• Central Avenue/Cambridge Road (HAWK Light)
• Clifton Street/Central Avenue/Sycamore Street
• Scotch Plains Avenue/First Street

Brindle said the labor shortage issue is not specific to Westfield, and not specific to Westfield crossing guards, as similar challenges are being faced across the nation in various industries.

The town administration and Chief Battiloro are scheduled to meet with All City Management Services to review the program and make recommendations for how to best address the staffing issue before students return to school in the fall.