About US...

Residents of Mountain Lakes,

The residents of Mountain Lakes have received or will be receiving a survey asking for your opinion regarding the merger of Borough services.  Members of the Borough Council have suggested that in order to reduce taxes, Mountain Lakes should look into the option of paying another jurisdiction to provide police services (as well as other services) to Mountain Lakes.  As some of you know, our dispatch services have already been eliminated.  Four dispatchers lost their jobs in order to save approximately $56,000 per year.  Morris County, who now provides our dispatch service has already determined that the previously promised minimal annual increases in cost will not be adhered to.  Therefore the $56,000.00 savings was not a savings at all.

The cost to run a Police Department in NJ equates to a single digit percentage of the taxes that you pay.  In Mountain Lakes it is even lower, as our salaries and benefits are below the Morris County average and our operating budget is one of the lowest in Morris County.  The truth is that the schools receive over 70% of the taxes you pay.  The remainder is divided up amongst the County, Borough and other entities.  No one is suggesting that we reduce funding for the schools.  We only wish to let the citizens of Mountain Lakes understand that eliminating your Police Department or other Borough services will not result in any significant savings to the tax payer.

The cost to pay another town to police Mountain Lakes would be minimally less expensive than paying for your own police department.  Once another town takes over, you are at their mercy with regards to cost increases etc.  Also, after a police department is disbanded, it is too cost prohibitive to restart such an agency if it is determined that the new arrangement isn't working out.

We have received many complaints regarding our lack of dispatch services.  Phones now go to voicemail, rather than being answered if no one is in headquarters.  People that come to the police department often arrive and realize that no one is there at the door to assist them.  Now imagine if you had to go to Parsippany Police Department or another agency to receive the information or assistance you needed.  Whether that be, filling out a vacant home report or picking up a Handicap parking permit or an accident report or having a child seat installed in your vehicle, or just to speak with an officer for advice.  The Mountain Lakes Police Department is a community oriented department.  We offer many services that larger departments do not offer.  Do you really want to lose those benefits on the hopes that it may reduce your taxes by less than what you pay for cable over a few months?

If you would like to continue to have a Mountain Lakes Police Department and keep it staffed at a minimal acceptable level, please take the time to contact your Borough Council at:

Mountain Lakes Borough

400 Boulevard
Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Members of Local 310

The Mountain Lakes Police Department...

Local 310 is comprised of the 14 Officers of the Mountain Lakes Police Department.  These 14 Officers are responsible for maintaining public order and safety in the Borough of Mountain Lakes.  The Mountain Lakes Police Department is headed by Chief Robert Tovo.  Second in command is the Executive Officer, Lieutenant Stephen Ough.  The remaining Department is comprised of four Sergeants, seven Patrolman and one Detective.

The Patrol Division is comprised of four squads.  Each squad is made up of two officers and a supervising Sergeant.  Each squad works a 12 hour shift, rotating between working during the day and working overnight every month.  The patrol officer is responsible for traffic enforcement, investigating traffic accidents, and responding to all calls for service.  They are the first on scene in a medical emergency, a commission of a crime, a fire, etc.

The Detective Bureau is comprised of one officer.  He is responsible for investigating all crimes which occur within the Borough, working with other agencies when conducting multi-jurisdictional investigations, as well as various administrative duties.

Mountain Lakes Police Officers responded to NYC on 9-11 and to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

The Mountain Lakes PD is currently in need of difibrillators (AED's).  The current AED's that we are using are outdated and not pediatric compliant (they cannot be used on small children).  Our budget does not permit the purchase of new units.  We are the first people on scene in a medical emergency, and use these units often to save lives.  If anyone is interested in donating an AED, please contact the Mountain Lakes Police Department at 973-334-1413.