Faced with police overtime costs, Franklin OK's hiring new officer

FRANKLIN — Faced with overtime expenses that total more than the cost of hiring a new police officer, the Borough Council gave the go-ahead to add an additional officer to the Police Department.

During Tuesday's council meeting, members, not sure whether the department's table of organization stands at 16 or 17 officers, noted the overtime being spent to keep each shift up to strength was more than the approximately $42,000 annual salary of a new officer.

The department is currently down two officers because of disciplinary action and three out on disability. Council members were also told two officers are likely to retire in the near future.

In addition to the hiring, the Sussex County Prosecutors Office will loan one of its detectives to the department.

Chief Greg Cugliari did not participate in the discussion which centered on a memo he sent to Mayor John Sowden.

Of the two disciplinary cases, one will be returning to active duty by the summer while the other is subject to firing.

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Although the two officers were not mentioned by name at the meeting, it has been public knowledge that Lt. Jeffrey Smith has been waging a legal battle on his suspension subject to termination. He was first suspended with pay in July 2018 and suspended without pay six months later. He is accused of misuse of steroids which reports state was discovered in a random drug test.

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Councilwoman Rachel Heath, who took office at the beginning of the year and was named to chair the council's Public Safety Committee, said "it's really scary" when looking at the overtime needed to keep shifts manned to adequate levels.

The mayor said even though the chief's preferred candidates have finished the police academy "it will take some time" for the background checks to be completed. Candidates must also go through psychological and medical checks.

This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Faced with police overtime costs, Franklin hires new officer