Wildwood Receives Grant for Police in Downtown

WILDWOOD – The Wildwood Board of Commissioners today announced that the City has received a $20,000 grant from the Wildwood Business Improvement District (WBID). The funds will be used to hire additional police officers to patrol the downtown business area.
WBID is a non-profit organization comprised of business owners on Atlantic and Pacific Avenues in Wildwood that was created to enhance services in the downtown commercial area. It provides funding for capital and streetscape improvements, weekend cleaning crews, marketing, advertising and event sponsorship for the Downtown District. All their projects are self-funded or use state, federal or UEZ monies, at no additional cost to Wildwood taxpayers.
To supplement the permanent police force during the tourist season, the City hires a number of Special Officers Class II. The Class II officers go through several months of training and have full police powers, but only while on duty. The City will utilize the WBID grant for additional Class II officers for the downtown commercial district. A total of 29 Class II officers will be hired by Wildwood to augment public safety during the busy summer season.
“We appreciate very much the support of the WBID,” stated Commissioner of Public Safety Anthony Leonetti. “They have done a great job in enhancing the appearance of the downtown and promoting the businesses there. It is our job to create a safe atmosphere that will enable the businesses to thrive. This grant will enable us, during tough budgetary times, to put more police officers on the streets in the business district.”
Mayor Ernie Troiano, Jr. and Commissioners Pete Byron and Anthony Leonetti made restoring public safety a centerpiece of their recent campaign. They are working to bridge a $2.5 million budget gap created by the previous administration’s plan to lay off 20 police officers and 6 firefighters. The police department has been restructured as a cost-cutting measure and now has a reduced management team of one chief, one captain, one lieutenant and five sergeants. The total force, after recent and pending retirements, will be down to 31 officers, with as few as 3 officers on patrol during a shift. A new contract, recently negotiated by the new Mayor and Commissioners, will save taxpayers over $120,000 for each new officer over a nine year period.
“We are facing a very difficult budgetary crisis,” added Commissioner Leonetti. “The previous administration’s plan to lay off 20 police officers was absolutely not feasible and would jeopardize public safety. As it is now, we’ll have a total police force of 60 officers this summer, with 31 full-time and 29 Class II officers. Just a few years ago, we had a total of 100 officers during the tourist season. That’s a 40% reduction. We are now at the bare minimum to maintain public safety. Our challenge is to tirelessly seek new sources of revenue to pay for the basic services Wildwood residents and visitors need and deserve. ”