Find it interesting that Steve Reid was "outraged" one day and now he is complimenting the cops? Play one side of the fence Stevie. He is a great addition to that disfunctional family on the dais. Best to get your facts before you come off like a horse's ...!

Mr Common Sense, I agree completely.
Lack of appropriate staffing is the underlying cause of most overtime. But your politicians have to place blame on someone. So attacking our hardworking police and public workers is the easiest venue. What people fail to realize that just because the lay people off, of place a hiring freeze does not make the work go away, thus creating the need for overtime. If you are short 5-10 police officers in town than the work load will fall on the remaining officers, and it creates huge amounts of overtime. In many instances the overtime is not always voluntary. So the public will continue to attack the police because it is easy.

Peg & Mr., I totally and completely agree with both of your views. The fault lies and only lies amongst the prior dysfunctional council we were stuck with. They have created and caused mismanagement with not only in our police department, the water dept., which I am sure we will be paying for another increase again, this is something the residents can't even write off. The Mayor told them about that too, he argued until he was blue in the face. They stole the money. Not bowered being they never paid it back to balance a budget for their political grand standing of pitching to the zero pct tax increase to the residents. Well, guess what that credit card bill is in now in and we the residents will be paying for it now. Just like the police. Along with prayer law suit we will be paying for. Consolidating the courts without checking and realizing they would have to send a paid officer over to their courts is also another mismanagement, which I am sure cost us. Getting rid of a great police dispatcher that knew our streets, was efficient which was well worth the salary, not even making that much, to have sgts who make more have to now cover at a much higher rate that is possibly over time too or costing us more in some way I am sure. He might have quit because of the insults of this council, either way we loss him. This council is the ones who should take the blame for the 17 furloughs on the other employees, also the same council who was willing to give the Motel/Hotel Tax back.

I also feel this council has been running a lot smoother, working together. Respected each other regardless of their opinions or disagreement. It was going good so far until Mr. Reid had to do this. I do not know who put him up to this, but it was wrong. As a council member he should have respected our police enough, to go directly to them first, to find out the answers and reasoning. To say he feels their should be an inditement. For What? He really needs to apologize in my opinion. He could have gone to the Mayor or more experienced Council members who knew what was going on before he went to an on-line paper. The prior council would not even listen to our bond council which has been for years Bill Mayer who is now a council member to let us put a bond through to free up so money in case of emergencies and they voted No on that too. Which hurt every employee, that was done at the last council meeting, right before Christmas. Merry Christmas, to all the employees and residents of this town. They put us all at risk and if you ask me they also continually have"Pitt" the Residents against the Businesses by constantly setting fuel to the fire on many issues.

Please explain how it was a mockery. Because he dealt in facts? Facts that maybe you didn't want to hear.

Obviously you where not there and do not know what you are talking about. He was professional, to the point, true facts. Not that I did not like Chip DiCorcia, he was great guy and police. But he would be dealing with the same problems and would have no other choice than do the same thing that Chief O'Hara had to.

Tom,

Dikun is/was suing Point Boro...not Point Beach.
As many unpaid sick days as he earned....per the legal binding contract.
No, he finished law school before being a Pt Beach L.E.O.

Not sure how/why you'd involve Barrella with this....but whatever.
Would have been nice if Marilyn knew what she was talking about though....

Tom, Apparently you have not gotten much right on all the issues you posted on. Get the correct information before you start posting false information. Marilyn Burke did speak up and that is her right as a resident. But at least she is asking for answers instead of guessing and spreading false information like a jackass. Once it was explained to her, she is smart enough to realize the police department had no other choice in the matter. She seemed satisfied with the Chiefs explanation.

Officer Dikun is a fine outstanding member of the community. You obviously don't have all your facts. You only know the negative because you haven't taken the time to find out the entire story. When there are not enough police officers to answer the calls in town, who do you propose do it? When the town is understaffed overtime is incurred and it is not always voluntary, and it works that way in every business. The work doesn't go away just becasue you ae understaffed. Your sleepy little town is not as quiet as you think, and to say that is ignorant. Why don't you go sit in the municipal court room for a few days it will be an eye opening experience, especially in August and September., Or maybe go look at the reports of instances where police from other towns had to respond in to help because the town was overwhelmed. It has happened several times in the last few years. Instead of complaining why not come up with a feasible solution, instead of attacking a man who has defended the residents of this town his entire life. I am sure you would be the first person complaining if you needed police help and they took to long to get there because they were understaffed.

Dave,I couldn't agree more!!!!

I'll second that! Too many react without bothering to learn the background of the issue - not only the public, but, as with this, those on Council as well. We have an excellent police department. They deserve more respect than that.

Dave ... we beg to disagree. You are the most concise, fairest, nicest person ,in this town
That pay is obscene.
I wonder if he took vacation in July and August.. The town is badly run..thats it.
Tom Mc732 673 0051Andrew
ps I respect you even more for putting your name on your comments. Run for council!

Dave, Reid didn't ignite anything. Whether you accept theChiefs explanation or not. It's inescapable that this overtime should never have happened. 250k in over time is a bad thing. 70 kfor one man while other employees are forced to take pay cuts through days off is just bad, very bad business. Someone on council was not paying attention to let this overtime accumulate. Mayor, council representative to police,finance person in charge. It's just wrong to allow this to happen.

Just how much of this inordinate amount of overtime was a result of "law" vs. "contract"??? If it was mostly contractual obligations then clearly the contract will need to be tweaked next time it comes around to prevent this sort of thing from happening again.

@tmcandrew, Why would Dave want to run for council. To be abused by individuals like you. Ungrateful of the time and effort they put in to issues. That every time you do not agree with someone you result to attacking when you do not even have it right. If you got it right or even close I would say all right, but not even close. Most are misinformed on many issues. This town is a complicated town that has many issues, it is not that easy unless it is blatant political motives that our prior council seemed to have from what I seen and witnesses. They are the ones who created and caused the mismanagement and it did not stop at the police dept. {see above posts} They are the ones to blame for the overtime, furlough days, they were the ones who did not care to listen, everything fell on deaf ears and we are going to pay for it now. It is going to take us a while to get out of the mess they created.

Perhaps you could get in touch with the council, start with the one who WASN'T elected TWICE. Ask them why they haven't moved on police promotions. Oh, and just so you know. I'm from the far left.

If you do the math. That "character" worked what turns out to be an average of 9 hours a week in overtime. If you want to point fingers point them to Trenton who mandate policies and never kick in to the Municipalities.

Dave from the 'far left', now that's funny. He probably knows more about the workings of local government than the collective knowledge of the entire Council. As for his political leanings, they can best be described as caring and informed. He just calls them as he sees them. Refreshing.

Jr. If you have ever read anything I have ever written; you would know; collectivelly my family has owned property in this town for over 100 yrs. "Carpetbagger? ", look it up; reference the civil war.
You do make a good pt Jr.; the public employees had 17 furlough days last yr. how many did the police have? You are correct...I have a big mouth...someone has to.
As far as your question, "what does living in town have to do with it"? It has everything to do with it when someones hand is in our pockets and they dont even live here! Get it?

Rick, I'm afraid you have completely missed the point of this issue. This town is not being well run! This latest debacle proves that.This isn't about the police being bad. Most police officers, are dedicated, loyal, and good at what they do serving the public. This problem is with this overtime is it's about a breakdown in local government. The red failure light is on. Did they blame the guys in the engiene room for the passenger liner disaster when ship went on the rocks in Italy? No! The captain is being held responsible. You just can't talk this into being a good job by anyone running this town government. Last point, how would you feel if you were one of the other town employees that had the budget balanced on their back? Not to good for building morale among the other workers who also serve the town. There is something very broken and in need of fixing, in our town government. Next thing I'll be hearing is that it's "all George Bush's fault!! ".

Uncle Ed, personally I think you are missing the point! I agree with Rick and if you read the comment. He states if you went to the meeting you would know why? Lt. Dikun was the only one who made majority of the over time. He also explains the lack of Administrators we have in our department and that is the main reason. You are correct the town is mismanaged and the fault lies with the prior council only. They are the ones who created and caused the mismanagement with all their poor decisions they made and the other reason why their if furlough days amongst the other employees. If you went to council meetings you would have seen all the poor choices. How many police officers are too much to keep our town great. How many police officer do you think we should have on a shift majority of the times? Do you even know? Most are surprised. Remember what we have in our town. Really look around at all the issues that need to be on top off. Morale? Are you kidding me, the employees seen for themselves the lack of morale the prior council has caused. Go ask them!

Mr. McAndrew:
Trust me I get it. I am thrilled that your family came over on the Mayflower and settled in Point Beach. "Collectively " owning property in town and being apart of the community are two different things. I have lived here over 50 years. I don't know you from theFire Company/First Aid, Elks, VFW or the schools. You were not my kids Pop Warner or Little League Coach. So I guess you spend time elsewhere or are not big into community service. Just trying to find out your agenda in this? And please don't give me the "voice of reason reply." This whole thing is trumped up. The train of fiscal ruin left the station years ago. Driven by pols who are long gone. Well sort of. So are you a minion for the Henessy/Malone Republicans? Pot stirring by direction? Reid started this. Once outraged and now silent. He got a pass by being appointed to council. He will have to face the voters again in November. I wish him well.

Rick, you are absolutely correct. Unfortunately these people never have a valid argument to complain about so they just spew lies and misinformation and hope something sticks. Even when they are presented with facts,they continue to make things up. We are fortunate to have the Police that we have and the previous council has been told over and over of the effects that being shortstaffed would have on the town. They chose to ignore it...and now the ones that supported the previous council members are trying to continue the chaos. As I said last night, Mr.Reid owes Lt.Dikun and the Police Dept. an apology. The residents are becoming educated to what the council is doing and Mr. Reid will actually have to be ELECTED in November so this is a great test of his character. Lets see what he does...

The town has a lot of issues that you apparently are not aware of or are in denial. Go to town hall and get the police report for the pass two weeks, even go beyond that. No, it is not summer with some of the obnoxious drunk tourists but we have a lot of other issues here. We had 8 break ins, in the last two weeks, assault and much more. There is also a lot of domestic fights going on that the police has to break up. We are lucky that we have professional experience police that no how to handle themselves that do not abuse their power. Our police department does not have any law suits which is big amongst these sea shore towns that have a board walk. If we did, we would know about it. They really work hard and spreads them self thin. Everyone thinks it is so easy. All of a sudden so many become experts and feels they know all the laws and they can handle a trained police officers job, sure they can. Go take the test, go to school and become one. Let's see if you think it is so easy then. It is a lot of responsibility and I can bet most could not do the job themselves like so many think they could.

To feel too bad, I think the guys name was Jim Jones. A few years ago he got about 900 people(his followers) to drink poison laced kool aid.Seems like we have some of the same mentality living in our town.

Jones Town, really?

Uncle Ed, No one believes you. Get over the fact that less is following you and stopped drinking the poison laced kool aid a while ago that have been giving out. for Just admit everyone of you have been caught. Your games have been obvious to most.

Seems like there are more questions than answers. The council is blamed by the Chief for this run away overtime expense. Most of the council is guilty of not watching the store...councilwoman Tooker was the council member in charge of the police in 2011. She has said nothing! No explanation of why she didn't know this meter was running wild all year on the overtime?. I guess they are all trying to make this inexcusable mismanagement go away. Is there no communication between the Chief and council during the year? Someone on council, the Chief, the Administrator, Person in charge of finance, should have alerted everyone that there was a major overtime problem at some point during last year! The bleeding could have been stopped before it became 250k and 70k for one person! Gross mismanagement! No way to run a town.

What I find funny is all the individuals who are on her complaining did not seem to come out to the council meeting to complain about the OT that was paid to the Lt. or Chief. But they will comment on here. So something tells me the few on here who is making all the fuss are the few left who are still in support of the prior council or are some of the prior council on here. Who is drinking the kool aide? Uncle Ed, you keep on talking about Blind Faith, maybe you are the one who is blind. Stephen Reid loss twice, he was not elected in. He was strategically placed there by your Blind Faith group. Everyone that went to the council meetings seen that with their own eyes. It was done by former councilmen, Hennessy, Rizzo and Dyer. What corruption, I think you and your few followers are the one who is drinking the kool-aide. Why didn't you come out to the council meeting to speak up? Do not give me the excuse that you were afraid? If an elderly women " Ms. Burke" can stand up and question the council so can all of you. Stop the nonsense and poor excuses.

You would trust a majority of people with little or NO KNOWLEDGE of the issue with a decision on public safety?

Really? An outside study was done at no cost. It was a State Agency that checks out an entire town and all the issues. According to them we need more police. I think we are off by 3. Also most police departments run like the military. Chain of command. They have a Chief, A Captain that we do not have, and two Lts, we only have one and sergeants. When that is done we can do a binding referendum OK, Not that it will work. Look at the parking fiasco. That became political too! Sure that will work in this town. I guess most would not mind our town becoming a Seaside heights either, I mean it is half way there according to all the residents who live by the beach. I happened to believe them. I do not like what I have seen and how the town has turned. I think this town is asking for trouble if they continually do not want to support the police and schools in my opinion.

You hit the nail right on the head.

Ms. Kelly,nowyou just telling yourself this is not mismanagement. You are one of the very vocal but very small minority of that belief. As far as blame or responsibility for this overtimegate,,everyone on that council,including the Mayor, Administrator,Chief, all allowed this MISMANAGEMENT. Your quick to shift blame to those that proposed aPolice Director, which I too thought a bad idea at the time,however, a Director would never have permitted this mess. Don't make up stories about Councilwoman Tooker either. From what I'm aware she wasn't in the State much of last summer when much of these police staffing problems were taking place. She was not paying attention to her responsibility. Stop trying to cover up for her. Iv'e been told of your bias and blind faith in Mayor Barella and his folllowers.Don't drink their kool aid.

@Cathy Kelly, That is exactly what happened. What is more comical they selectively listened to the police on only some of the issues. When they wanted to make a point for themselves. Then would not listen to any of the other important issues. Selective hearing and seeing is what has caused most of the problems that are going on in this town.

@Beacon Beach, It sounds like you are jealous. If you were in his position you would have been asked to do the same thing. You would have done it too. He worked the hours. He should get paid. Do you know how or anything about the PD and how it should run? There were guys on PD their at the council meeting and they all were backing up the Lt.

Great post tmcandrew !! you r sooo right. this blog is full of character assassins and people with their own agenda that they lose site of the topic. If Mr Kelly can run a city of cops for 165k then why can't these guys run 21 guys. If this Lt. made 200k running 21 guys then Mr kelly should be making $476,200,000 in comparison to ratio of size of force !!

@Really??, That is the reason why there is so much overtime. We should have 4. The police department has been working on 2 way to long. A DCA report and study was done by the State of New Jersey. We have been short police for a while. I know everyone thinks we have to many police in a small one mile town... But according to them we do not. I have to believe them because they are the ones with all the experience on how to figure out what is needed in a town. We have a Boardwalk, a lot of rentals in the summer, 23 or 24 liquor license wether it is in bars, restaurants or clubs., Who allowed all these liquor license? How can we change this or at least control what is going on in our town. We have all kinds of benefit walks, and major events displayed by the boardwalk. All their followers are coming to this small town. All the other towns have to approve every event and they charge accordingly for what is needed, Security, clean up and insurance in case of law suits. It does not come cheap. Residents need to see the entire picture before they complain. Can't have it both ways. Either pay for the police or stop the events, walks and put stipulation on the bars that is creating the most problems. All of a sudden so many have become experts on how and what it takes to run the police dept and the town. The individuals that do not live here can't even imagine. I am sure they would change their mind if they did. We need to start charging more to all that want to use our town.

ms motto, I now understand after reading your recent posts that you are another of the "blind faith" group...it is a small group but very vocal. You and Ms Kelly keep right on with your Jones town thinking. Your the ones sinking the town with your delusional attitude. Nothing I or anyone else can say will make you see the reallity of what is going on with this issue.Your content with your "Obama" attitude of blaming others for the lack of ability and bad direction by "leaders" like the current Mayor, Councilwoman Tooker, and now it seems add Mr Gordon as part of their bloc. How sad for the future fine community.

Uncle Ed, You are the one who is blind, it is not a small group. You do not have your facts straight and the one who is delusional. Who said anything about "OBAMA, get your head out of the sand. He has nothing to do with all these local problems. Some of the prior council members with the last few out, not only were the most dysfunctional, the most dishonest individuals. They are the only reasons we are in trouble as a town. Sir, I witnessed it myself by going to meetings. If they would have heed warning on numerous issues the town would not be in the shape it is in. We are paying for their political grandstanding of the zero budget increase. Expect your water bill to go up again too, because of them. If they would have listened to the Chief and the Mayor we would not be having all these PROBLEMS. YOU ARE IN DENIAL!

@Uncle Ed, As I am reading these post, You referred to and stated the "Obama"attitude, yet above you are saying next I will here it was President Bush's fault. What does either of them have to do with our town? That is how out of touch you are. I know plenty of individuals that did not agree or believe in either one of their policies. I think you are the one who is missing the points. These are local issues.

The stage has been set not for any Director, promotions and new hirings of police are coming soon. Before year end...Dikun will be Captain, more new officers hired...maybe a couple new Lt's, and the band played on on the deck Titanic.

That is why we did not support Director at the time. Your points are well taken. Thank you.
I have to to give credit to those that at least tried at the time...and then apparently realized it was not the right choice. Trouble is what took place, it turns out, wasn't good either.I don't blame this Chief solely either. Imagine this scenario say last summer,
Councilwoman Tooker, "Chief, how are things running in the department?" Chief responds," Well, councilwoman, you better report to the council overtime is becoming a big problem", "Gee!, thanks Chief, I will do that, let's see what can be done to fix this before it becomes a major problem". Does this example of her exerting her responsibilty seem fair enough. Trouble is it never happened.

Agreed, They also do not understand, rank and file either as in the military, which is similar to most police departments. We should have a Captain and another Lt. with in our department that the Chief has asked the prior council for a year in half only for the council to turn it down. He asked for more money in the budget because he for seen the problems and it also feel on deaf ears with the prior council. The council kept on taking money away from the police budget continuously and then they wonder why we have so many problems. They waited for an emergency situation in the middle of the summer. Many residents that came to the council pleaded to this council for more money for our police so they could take back the control of the beach area of the town and I do not blame them. They are to blame for many of the towns problems. The police, furlough days and most know this and if not they are out of touch with their own town.

downsouth, just read Wolber letter too. If I recall correctly, he was a big Gordon supporter too. I think he wrote a letter in October in support of Gordon. His letter today sounds like he too is disappointed in the Commander. We all make mistakes, A person with his character(Wolber) to his credit is at least willing to admit it. Maybe, Mr Gordon will break from the bunch he ran with and see the light.

If you are the "andy" that just ran for council, it sounds like you may be he, you should be on council instead of Gordon or Reid. Gordon who we supported really disappointed in his first test on this overtime mess, "Business as usual" comment in the Ocean Star speaks for his understanding and attitude. Reid needs to decide where he stands. First, he comes out strong asking the right questions and then folded at the council meeting. Hope you run against CouncilwomanTooker, sounds like w could use a rational thinker like yourself. .

Andy, So what are you trying to say? I am just trying to understand were you stand on these issues if you think you might run for council in the future. They did not follow the OT to a minimal or protocols. Do you realize that this council originally took away from the police budget, then had to come up with emergency funding do to the problems over the summer in the beach area of our town. I know I am not in the beach area, but we are one town and what happens there effects the entire town, I do not blame the residents for coming out over the summer asking the council for help and extra money that was needed. It seems that you know a lot about unions. However I would think a police department is a little different, there is a chain of command that you follow as the military, certain laws that you have to go by and like the Chief said, only ranking officers can do certain work, being we are not fully staffed in our police department. What choice did the Chief have. What do you suggest the Chief should have done? You might have knowledge on this topic. I am not trying to disrespect you, but I can almost bet you that there is different rules that apply to a law enforcement agency that it does not in the cable company. Again, no disrespect to you. Residents will complain about the taxes, yet they do not want to lose any level of services. Services cost money, residents need to decide if they want to live in a nice town or not a nice town. Can't have your cake and eat it to.