TOPIC OF THE DAY: Consolidated departments

Poor excuse for not merging

The Asbury Park Press, August 20, 2006

I will be interested to see the results of the Asbury Park Press Reader's Poll question ("Would you favor the merging of police departments of your town and neighboring towns to reduce property taxes?" Aug. 13-19; results available today) after reading the remarks of the Lake Como police chief in a story about a proposal to merge the police departments of eight Monmouth County municipalities. ("8-town police force is a cost-cutting idea," Aug. 10.)

The chief defended small-town police departments by citing the example that his police officers can respond to a homeowner whose hot water heater has broken. The dispatcher who took that call should have told the resident to look under "Plumber" in his or her Yellow Pages so the police officers could continue protecting the rest of us from those who break the law or when we need help in an accident.

Maybe they have too many officers in some towns if that is how they are spending their time.

Robyn Flipse

BRADLEY BEACH