Township ups its police presence

  • 2014-07-31
Turnersville and other Washington Township areas can expect a change in policing personnel in 2015, as 11 new officers join the department.

Three of the recruits will be working on a full-time basis - a decision that was narrowly given the nod during a council meeting last week. Officials voted three to two in favor of their appointment, despite some questions being asked of whether the township should be paying people to train.

Dan Morley was one member of the board who expressed this concern, but fellow councillor Bob Smith argued that it would be a worthwhile exercise because they will not command an officer's wage until they graduate. Smith explained that they will be paid minimum wage until they become officers, at which point they will start on $32,500 per year plus benefits.

The surge of new officers brings the number up to 75 in the area and is an attempt to make up a drop in numbers following several police retirements in recent years.

The new full-time recruits will begin a training course next month that will run through December. Following their graduation, the fully trained officers will be on patrol as of January. The other eight will take up the role of Special Law Enforcement Officers, and their training will extend through May.

Having secured their roles in the Washington Township Police Department, the new officers or their employers might wish to invest in digital Business Cards to give off a professional aura.
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