STAFFORD – Local officials have postponed a decision on whether to accept a donation of a Metal Shark boat and Amera Trail trailer, which could lead to the creation of a marine unit within the township.
“This is essentially a boat that the Stafford Township Police Foundation procured through a government auction site,” shared Mayor Greg Myhre as he introduced the resolution. “They’re now going to donate it to the township in order to have a police boat in the township.”
Police Chief Thomas Dellane explained the need for the marine unit to the governing body at their October 24 meeting. He said that the township has never had a marine unit and that the department has been looking for grant funding for over 20 years.
The police department receives a number of complaints throughout the year about jet skis and boats, particularly in the Beach Havn West section of town. Dellane said that the township has never had the ability to respond to these complaints on its own.
With fourteen miles of waterway within the community, relying on the Marine Police can create an issue. Response times can be slow if the Marine Police have to travel from Toms River. The Coast Guard will not come into the lagoons unless there is a severe emergency.
Dellane anticipated that the marine unit be used as a reactive vessel or as a community policing tool during events like Lagoon of Lights. The boat would not be used to conduct regular patrols.
Council members questioned the viability of creating a marine unit utilizing a boat that is already fifteen years old. Dellane explained that it is made of metal and has an unlimited lifespan. One of the advantages of this particular vessel is that it was decommissioned by the Coast Guard and stationed on Barnegat Light.
Local authorities have a great working relationship with the crew at Station Barnegat Light and assured Stafford Police that the boat was well maintained.
The Coast Guard stripped all sensitive electronic gear before auctioning off the vessel.
“We’ve had a donation offer from a substantial marine electronics company that should take care of that,” said Dellane. “The motors would need to be brand new as well.”
Stafford Police Chief Thomas Dellane speaks to the governing body about donating a boat and trailer to be used as a marine unit. (Screenshots courtesy Stafford Township)
Stafford Police have several personnel in-house licensed through the captain level to operate vessels up to 100 feet in length. The boat is 24 feet in length and designed for rescue purposes.
Dellane anticipated that the cost to the township after the boat was donated would be based on the price of putting the motors back on the boat. The estimated price would be $38,000 for two 200-horsepower motors.
“I think it’s important to remind everyone that we have one of the largest waterfront communities in the state with over 100 lagoons,” said Myhre. “That’s just Beach Haven West, and we have the islands between our mainland here and LBI.”
“The entire bridge all falls within the jurisdiction of Stafford Township,” Myhre added. “What I think is unusual is that a township like this would not have a boat for emergency response.”
As part of the discussions, Councilman Thomas Steadman questioned the feasibility of purchasing a new boat instead of an older one. However, the estimated price of at least $300,000 appeared to make the suggestion cost-prohibitive.
Dellane said that work could be started to get the boat into service by May if the township approved the donation.
Council members decided to table it, meaning they held it off to another meeting, saying they only heard of the prospective donation a few days before the meeting.
Two separate residents expressed their support for the township’s acceptance of the boat to be used as a marine unit.
“I’m very disappointed in this delay of this resolution to accept the donation of the boat and trailer,” said Carol Smith, Vice President of the Beach Haven West Civic Association. “(The delay) is not only putting our residents at risk but the people who come up and go sightseeing.”
Smith expressed her concerns that the boat would not be ready to be in the water in May for the boating season. She felt the council should have acted quickly on a decision that involved emergency rescue services.
The post Stafford Council Stalls Starting A Police Marine Unit appeared first on Jersey Shore Online.
