PBA, police command clash over scheduling BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer EDISON - A dispute over changes to the police schedule has flared up between the Edison Policemen's Benevolent Association (PBA), the local police union, and the command staff, headed by newly appointed Deputy Chief Thomas Bryan and Police Director Brian Collier. The dispute is centered around a switch in the hours police officers in Edison work. The original schedule for police followed a fourdays on, three-days-off pattern. The new schedule follows a fivedays on, two-days-off pattern. The PBA feels that the move is not justified, stressing that scheduling needs to be negotiated before it's changed. The administration feels that the changes are beneficial for the town as a whole, however, because they increase access to police services. The changes were first announced on May 2 and apply to the detective bureau and the newly formed Select Enforcement Unit. Mike Schwarz, president of the Edison PBA, had been supportive of the new command team, saying that there had been a very professional working relationship thus far. However, this was before the changes were announced. "Up until Friday, everything was [cordial], but now it appears the command staff and/or the public safety director are changing schedules, contractually agreed schedules, without negotiating with the PBA," said Schwarz. Collier said the changes were needed due to the 24-hour nature of law enforcement work. "I am putting the detectives on Eastern Standard crime time to maximize their availability to investigate serious offenses committed against the people of Edison. Crime happens anytime, and we're going to do our best to have a attack the issue at hand," said Collier. B ryan, meanwhile, said the rationale for the changes comes down to manpower issues, and that the new schedule will let the police get more done. "The existing schedule didn't work, and what happens is we're shorthanded. The citizens of Edison are not getting the service that they need to be provided by our detective bureau, so by switching to a 5-2 schedule they are getting the services they need. It comes down to having more manpower when they need it … just because something was not right before does not mean it can continue to stay that way," said Bryan. Schwarz has stated in the past that he feels the department is understaffed and that there should to be at least 20 more cops, mostly in patrol, before the township's needs would be fully met. Nonetheless, he does not feel that the department is so shorthanded that changes to the schedule without negotiating with the PBA are justified. "[That] the mayor hasn't hired any more than two cops in the last two and a half years and promoted 18 does not justify a lack of manpower to provoke change in schedule without negotiations." said Schwarz. He stressed that changes to the schedule must first be negotiated with the PBA. To make changes without such negotiations, he said, blatantly violates the agreed-upon contract between the PBA and the township. The deputy chief disagreed and said that he believes the wording of the police contract is ambiguous and does not explicitly recognize the four-on, three-off schedule. He stated that the schedule needs to be mutually agreed upon and that management has the ability to not agree. Schwarz, meanwhile, has disagreed with this assessment and said that the PBA will pursue legal action if the changes are not reversed. "This is in multiple violations of our current existing contract and will be heard in the courts with an arbitrator if the changes are not immediately rescinded," said Schwarz. Bryan, however, said he is not overly concerned with the possibility of a court battle. "If they feel the need to do that, then so be it, but my responsibility is to the people of Edison," said Bryan.