Off-Duty Officer Rates Source of Concern for Councilman

The Parsippany town council, through a straw poll, agreed to place on the August 20 agenda, an ordinance that would raise off-duty officer rates.

Through the fiery meeting (held Tuesday at Parsippany Hills High School) that saw a Democratic councilman debate the Republican mayor about harassment charges, the rate change measure also brought out attendance from two law enforcement unions.

The measure saw thirty-plus members of the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) and Superior Officers Association (SOA) unions come out to support it.  

The ordinance, now under consideration at the next meeting, would raise fees rendered by off-duty police officers.

These officers would be: those who are employed by another governmental or commercial entity or outside party.

The last time the rates were increased, according to council members, was 2007, and the request now comes from the PBA’s surveys of surrounding towns. They submitted a spreadsheet to the township, with new rates that would reflect similar areas.

The regular rate would go from $50 to $65, increased to $75 in 2015, and the premium rate, including overtime (also considered any day after eight hours) would go from $75 to $85, increasing to $97.50 in 2015. Also, an administrative fee would go from $5 to $10.

The traffic control ordinance would also be amended so that off-duty officers would be utilized for roadwork in special circumstances (street and highway construction and maintenance operations for municipal roads).

“(Why are you) throwing this at us now?” said Councilman Michael dePierro. “And not when we are negotiating contracts?”

“A majority of towns do this as an ordinance,” said PBA president, George Tsimpedes. “It’s not contractual.”

dePierro, still against the measure's introduction, was unsettled on why the rate change is being proposed now.

In the straw poll proposed by township attorney, John Inglesino, council members agreed to place the issue on the agenda at the next meeting.