THE RIDGEFIELD PARK POLICE DEPARTMENT

1893-Present

A police force was officially established on June 26, 1893, by the Village Board of Trustees, and it allowed for rank no higher than Captain. The three Police officers appointed were done so at the discretion of the Board and could be removed from their position at any time, at the pleasure of the Board. It was not until July 1, 1916 that the office of Chief of Police was enacted.

Not only did our newly formed police force have the responsibility to protect life and property, arrest all those guilty of felonies and other crimes or ordinances, but they also had to impound all goats, sheep, horses, swine, and cattle found running at large within the boundaries of the Village.

While there was no data to be found regarding salary requirements of the fledgling department, it can be surmised that it was probably in the area of $500.00 per year. In 1911 Captain William Melia was earning $75.00 per month, with $125.00 per year for expenses and he had to furnish his own uniform. A patrolman was earning $50.00 per month, with Patrolman Fred Larson also receiving $300.00 per year as the municipal janitor. By 1923 the salaries and the department had risen accordingly, with patrolmen earning a maximum of $2,500.00 a year. Currently a newly appointed patrolman can expect to start at almost $25,000 a year, a sizable jump since 1893.

Since 1893 the department has taken great strides in the field of law enforcement. The current contingent of officers are more career oriented and more highly trained. They are also better educated, with many officers holding college degrees. All officers of the department continue to attend classes in all phases of police tactics at the Bergen County Police Academy in Mahwah, NJ.

While the department is still engaged in the protection of the citizenry of the Village, it is now, in its present status, a link in a nationwide network of law enforcement agencies, able to communicate with them almost instantly via a sophisticated computer system. Over the years the department has enlisted the aid of law enforcement agencies throughout the country, from Phoenix, AZ to Maine. It has worked with the FBI and Secret Service in local investigations, in addition to all County and State enforcement agencies. In 1977 the department began using a K-9 Unit, led by Sgt. Timothy LaTour, which had proven its usefulness over the years, time and time again. Sadly, the K-9 Unit was disbanded in 1997.

The department’s mission is still the same as it was in 1893; the protection of life and property, the arrest of those guilty of criminal offenses, and service above and beyond to the Village residents. While the names of the men and women engaged in service to the community may change, their performance and concern for the Village and its people will never change.

It will be, as it has always been, exemplary.