September 2, 2003

MAJORITY OF POLICE, EMPLOYEE LAYOFFS RESCINDED

Rahway – Mayor James J. Kennedy announced today that layoff notices for 15 of the planned 19 police officers and other municipal employees slated to be terminated last month were rescinded late Friday afternoon.  As of today, three Rahway police officers have accepted positions with the Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department, and the remaining four officers that were to be laid off will now remain on the force.  Only one city employee was laid off last month.

“Due to voluntary resignations and retirements, we were able to preserve the majority of positions in the police department and in the city,” said Kennedy.  “I’d like to thank PBA Local #31 and all of our public employee unions, as well as department heads for working with us to reduce the number of workers laid off.  We are all concerned about the impact these reductions may have on municipal operations and public safety while keeping the needs of our property taxpayers in mind.”

The Mayor noted that the police force will now have 80 officers, which is still significantly more than the 73 officers on the force when Kennedy was elected Mayor in 1990.  Since 1990, crime has dropped by double-digits in the city.  The Police Department’s popular Community Assistance Team (CAT) will also be retained.

Kennedy said that these moves will save property taxpayers approximately $550,000 in the FY 2004 budget, which is expected to be approved by the City Council this fall.