Police in NJ are among the highest paid in the nation, with Ocean County taking the third place in the list, according to a report by the Star Ledger. According to the report, Lakewood cops have a median pay of $92,767. The median salary for the state’s 20,525 municipal officers was $90,672 last year, meaning half earned more and half earned less.
The median salary for municipal police in Bergen County, $109,700, was 60 percent higher than the median salary in Salem County, $68,792, the lowest in the state.
In comparing police salaries to teachers salaries, Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak said the comparison is “apples and oranges.” “The uniformed services are on the front lines of public safety every day,” he said. “Their jobs are inherently dangerous, even deadly. That can apply to rural and suburban areas as well.”
Palma Crooks, 46, of Norwood, also said she’s not bothered by how much police earn. But as a retired special educator, she said if teachers are pressured to forgo raises, police officers should, too.
“If cuts are going to be made, they should be made across the board,” she said. “I don’t want to say police aren’t worth the amount of money they make. But I feel education is equally important.”
But state and local officials are increasingly scrutinizing the police as they struggle to close yawning budget gaps.
After 20 years on the job, retiring cops get at least 50 percent of their base salary but no health benefits. After 25 years they get at least 65 percent and health benefits. Christie would change that so police get 60 percent after 25 years and 65 percent after 30 years. See the full report at Star Ledger.
See last week’s TLS report of over a dozen high ranking LPD officials who may call it quits soon.
You know the people are gonna be mad at this on . This is one of the reasons why our taxes are so high. Yes the police do a great job except for (moderated) , yes they always get there man but everyone knows they are overpaid. Let’s keep the salaries tdown to level folks, we are suffering out here, why is govt so bloated . Can’t we vote on this . Can we please have a list of all township employees and their salaries? That would be fun!
well then lets vote for a raise, make our police dept top in all ways…………then they may stay a bit longer
92k a year to give out tickets>>wow
its time to eliminate all these township police deprtments and merge it into a county wide system its being done in other counties in NJ it will save all the layers of dept heads etc..m
I am wondering if these figures include the value of benefits, which with medical could be $25-$30k.. if so, the actual salaries would be closer to $60k
These remarks are a disgrace, they deserve every penny ~ as for “puzzled ” do you really think thats all they do I know first hand that here in Lakewood with all the problems this town giving out tickets is a minor part of their job .
As for comparing what Teachers & Police do salary wise ,well you there is no wat you can do that!!
Town Salary Crime rate per 100 people
Howell 110K 15
Toms River
It is very easy to use the dangers of being a police officer to always argue for a higher salary. However compare it to major cities where the danger and risks are much greater such as NYC. Officers do not get paid even close to that amount and their jobs are way harder.
The reason is because it is politically incorrect to decrease the salaries and in small towns such as Lakewood it has a stronger impact politically then in a large city where there are more important issues for voters to be busy with…
Maybe you should tell Lt. Greg Meyer that after getting shot in the foot, he makes too much money. Or maybe tell that to Officer Wilson who got shot in the face and lost an eye. Not to mention the many other officer in the township of Lakewood who have suffered serious bodily injury in the performance of their duties. If you care to see how many of our officers are injured a year, many of these injuries requiring corrective surgery, ask the Chief Lawson or any of the other township administrators.
Town – Median Salary – Crime rate per 100 people
Howell – 110K – 15
Toms River – 101K – 27
Jackson – 101K – 14
Brick – 98K – 22
Lakewood – 92K – 24
Town – Median Salary – Violent Crime rate per 100 people
Howell – 110K – 1.2
Toms River – 101K – 1.2
Jackson – 101K – 0.6
Brick – 98K – 1.3
Lakewood – 92K – 3.6
It seems to me the Lakewood Police Department is not paid enough, Lakewood has a high rate of crime and violent crime and is paid less than the surrounding towns. Really your looking at the median pay rate not the average, so the officers making less then 92K could all be making 45K-60K and officers above could be making 93K-100K. We don’t know and shouldn’t judge without all the facts. I was told the LPD has the lowest starting salary in the area somewhere in the 40Ks. Many people in this town are quick to judge the LPD, your perception is all they do is give out tickets. First of all they don’t give out nearly as many tickets as surrounding towns, though they could easily give out the most with the way people drive in this town. Second, there are so many calls that you are all not aware of that they respond to which range from nonsense to murder. Many people reading this sit in offices, work behind counters, go to school, safe cushy jobs. Police get paid for the potential hazards they face, hours they put in and level of training they must maintain. All this bickering throughout the state is just pettiness. The economy took a downturn and now that things aren’t great jealousy prevails. We live in a capitalist society and in a capitalist society the only jobs that are safe are the ones that are essential. If your jobs not essential than you will feel the hurt, mine wasn’t and I am but I don’t begrudge someone who’s job is.
correction per 1000, i forgot a 0, sorry but still the point is the same
Bravo to #10. It really is sad about those people who complain all LPD does is give out tickets. Are they sheltered? do they have any clue what goes on? Get real. LPD does work harder than the other towns and they get no respect at all. I will say it again, you won’t get a ticket if you don’t break the law.
The LPD does a great job but this cut was from the State, nothing to do with the Township.
Very few people complain about the LPD. You can’t judge it by the 2-3 posters on here. I always see the LPD get plenty of respect when they are out and about.
I am telling you that if you cut the LPD salaries across the board you will prob have more officers taking their time and getting out of Lakewood. As well as some of the other people here..then YOU will have to complain that you have no one to handle your calls for service. Then what will you do..did you know that as a new police officer in NYPD they used to make less than working at MC Donalds? that is right they were on the poverty line collecting food stamps..I hope that has changed.
the lakewood police deserve every penny they are there trying their best thank you chief lawson and the entire dept
Weren’t four Lakewood police officers shot less then a year ago and isn’t one of them now blind? I think the town is getting more then their moneys worth.
I agree all those who complain about the salaries of the LPD have no clue , how many of you have families that worry about you when you are at work wondering if you will be confronted with by some nut with a weapon or gang violence ~ we are lucky to have these brave men willing to put their lives on the line
GIve the LPD a raise! I’m all for it. The people who are doing the most complaining seem to be uneducated. They can’t spell or put a sentence together. They sound like fools.
I have nothing against paying cops a decent wage, but I do have a problem with paying cops top Dollar to (moderated),or spend time on issuing thrivulous tickets & (moderated).
It’s really nice to see some positive comments for a change. Thank you to LPD and all the other police officers who put their lives on the line for us every day. You ARE appreciated.
i was given a ticket for no reason at all.All the ppl i speak to have the same complaint.Elections are coming up,the ppl of this town are not sitting still an longer as is obv.
To those that are complaining about the pay does your wife say to you before you leave your house please be safe! Does your family have to worry that a group of LPD officers will show up to your house with horrible news? It’s not only the officers, but it’s the whole family. They deserve every cent they make.
You pay for what you get. We have the best cops and they deserve to be compensated accordingly.
None of you bloggers would want to be cops-I can almost guarantee that. I hope none of the complaints are coming from our kehilla.
These cops take the time and put in the effort to learn about our needs and schedules and put forth their greatest effort to know how to serve Lakewood as a whole.
Don’t let a few stories paint a picture for the entire PD-just like we don’t like when the world paints a picture of us based on a few rotten apples.
#21- couldn’t have said it better myself.
Absoluteely being a police officer is a dangerous profession. But the government didnt draft these people to do theg job. Every indivigual whos a officer of the law has became one of there own free will. There are many who if given the oppertunity to pass the civil service test and pass the academy would take the job as a police officer for any place in the state. I havent met one rookie cop or wannabe who said they want to do it for the money. That is why N.Y.P.D. officers salaries were at poverty level up until the last few years. And Lakewood p.d. still makes way more that a p.d. force of 30k officers. Tax payers you do the math.
police officers who carry out their work and duties honestly definetly deserve the respect of the community however there are many occupations with fatality rates possibly even higher than law enforcement for example construction mining tree cutting and many other industrial jobs and most definatly us army personal the money they earn is a joke and they walk right into the line of fire