New Cops Could Be on the Horizon in Kinnelon

Kinnelon Councilman Gary Moleta revealed plans at Thursday's council meeting to amp up the Kinnelon police force in coming years.

"The chief is requesting we look at hiring in the future because we may be losing five officers within the next few years," he said. "We have to seriously look at a process being put into place so that we can fill in these roles."

Moleta said the borough should consider that five officers will likely be retiring within the next two years.

"It's something we really have to look at with a department of only 16, which is, as far as I'm concerned, a bit shorthanded based on economic times and whatnot," Moleta said.

The police department responded to about 2,600 calls last month, the councilman said. They arrested five adults; had three controlled, dangerous substance charges; have done 39 community policing projects; responded to nine suspicious person calls, nine burglary calls and 50 alarms; had two DWI arrests; and the community policing part of the job -- with programs such as D.A.R.E -- was conducted at Stonybrook School.

"Our police officers do participate in those programs, which is a real good thing for our community and our children," Moleta said.

He added that there were a total of 24 accidents to which the police department responded last month.