Why would the township hire a policeman to cover this need?
Hire a person to work at the first aid squad to be there during the day.
That person could work around the buildings and train to become a first aid responder.
We must all learn how to live more economically.

The police officer in the PRIDE unit was an EMT. Generally, he was on the first to arrive on the scene of a first aid call. The ambulance needs three people to answer the call, a driver, a crew chief, and an EMT. The PRIDE unit allowed care for the emergency to start almost immediately, the crew chief to respond to the scene and the EMT to drive the ambulance to the scene.

"We must all learn how to live more economically." is an easy thing to say, but when you consider the number of lives saved by the PRIDE unit while it was functioning, what is the ROI?

As usual, the Committee and the Police Department stink when it comes to actually describing what happens in town, and the way things actually work.

Why is this even a topic?
Why is the police department here understaffed?
Could it be because a public employee who qualifies for an accidental disability pension receives two-thirds of his final salary, with no state or federal taxes deducted, and life insurance without having to pay a premium until age 55?
I would hope not,,,,but...

This is a topic because there are not enough volunteers to provide emergency medical services during the daytime. The alternative is a paid EMS service, by it's nature would not be cheaper than volunteers. It means that if a child falls from a window or you have a heart attack during the day, the chances of everything turning out well are not good.
There are two first aid squad buildings. The town is 45 square miles, and it takes time to go from point A to point B. Your suggestion of adding two full time paid individuals to the municipality is not cheap.
The police department is understaffed and the vehicles they drive have over 100,000 miles on them, because the committee has balanced the budget by cutting people and putting off recurring expenses.
Are you intimating that Off Cecere, who was injured in the line of duty, effecting an arrest, does not deserve compensation, paid by the state, not Washington Township? If you ask people to put their safety on the line to protect your safety, you must be prepared to take care of them when they are injured and cannot return to work.

What about municipal or DPW employees..

I wholeheartedly support the idea that if someone gets hurt on the job they deserve compensation. Absolutely, no question.
Now do I think you should collect 85% of your salary for the rest of your life for a broken hand. No,I do not. Do I think someone with a broken hand will get another job in a few months. Yes. I do.
As a Fedex driver, if I broke my hand, could I retire?
The public sector should have the same rights and benefits as the private sector.
Not better, not worse. Use common sense.
Having the benefit is the right thing to do. The problem is with the administration.
Eventually, the pendulum will swing the other way and some poor person who really needs the benefit won't have it because it was taken away. Then we'll be saying why don't we have a better compensation program and some politician will say that's a great idea (and please vote for me because I care so much) let's do it and we can start the process all over again.

Haig. The max is 66%. Change the system, but be prepared for the unintended consequences. For the most part, the system works.

Max is 65% but add in no state or federal taxes and you have 85%.
You really think the system works for the most part.
The person who runs the fund doesn't agree.
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/11/nj_cops_staple_gun_accident_co.html

Did you read the article? The State Supreme Court widened the criteria for filing for a disability pension. As I read it, none of the people who filed under the new criteria were granted a disability pension for the full amount.

Off Cecere lost the use of his right hand and can longer shoot a weapon properly (with both hands). If you lost the use a leg, could you continue as a Fedex driver? What employment opportunities would be open to you? Would you turn down your private sector disability or unemployment ?

The public employment system rules exists because the Legislature created them, the Governor approved them and the Judiciary modified them. Don't use the specious argument that public employees forced them because the legislature and the Governor are responsible for their actions. A "They made me do it" argument is BS. Additionally, if public employees had that type of power to make elected and appointed officials bend to their will, they would not have seen the reductions in their benefits for the last five years.

I'm sorry, but for all the BS 911 calls the town receives, people need to start to pay for their transport to the hospital...its ridiculas to get a page for the things they get paged for. And, you mean to tell me, that people think its okay to pay for a police office to grab the ambulance at the station, at the salary they are getting paid for, but we can't pay for a crew to be there for 8-10 hours in the day light hours to cover those calls that are not getting crewed up. Its a shame, its a crying shame. Pay for what you want. You want a ride to the hospital cause you stomach hurts, then pay. You cut your finger and you want a ride, time to pay. And just FYI, about $4 dollars of your tax money goes to them each year, thats not even enough to pay for the gas.

Times are changing. I work as a paramedic in the state of NJ and I am also a town resident. I know how EMS works. There is nothing wrong with paying 2 members to be available during the day hours from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm to cover the town and after 6:00 pm we colud have an all volunteer crew. We couId use Hackettstown EMS as a back up whne multiple calls come in. I am sure that with today's financial issues it would be a welcome income for some. This is not about being against volunteers, I still volunteer, but we should place saving lives above saving property. I am sure we would not want a volunteer police department. Our state regulations do not obligate our town oficials to provide ems to our residents. I know there is more than enough funds being donated that could be used to provide a needed service to our residents. At least it is our etical responsibility, that is if we trully care about helping people.