Hightstown Police to Hire Part-time Officers

The Hightstown Police Department will be hiring four part-time police officers to help supplement the existing police force as a cost-saving measure, according to the police director.

They will be paid hourly and will not receive benefits, said Police Director James Le Tellier, stressing they will not replace full-time officers.

By using part-time officers, which are designated as “special officers,” Le Tellier said it helps reduce costs by assigning duties full-time officers typically do using overtime, which is time and a half of their pay.

“We will be saving the taxpayers a substantial amount of money,” Le Tellier said. 

The special officers are divided into two classes - class I and class II - and are typically appointed in January for a one-year period.

According to Le Tellier, a class I officer cannot carry a firearm, but will be used for other enforcement including crowd control, municipal ordinance enforcement and parking violations.

The police director said he plans to use these officers mainly for special events, such as local parades and the Harvest Fair, or for traffic control when sewer or water lines are being worked on, where in the past Hightstown police officers were being paid overtime.

Class II officers may carry a firearm and have up to the same authority as a police officer if they are properly trained, however they cannot carry a weapon off duty, Le Tellier said.

The main use for class II officers would be to pick up and transport prisoners, and staff the courts, as an armed officer is required to perform these duties, he said.

The officers will also have different uniforms to designate their class, and Le Tellier said he is looking into different options to minimize the cost. He said any equipment they use belongs to the Borough.

The class I officers will receive $8 to $18 an hour, and class II will receive $18 to $30, according to Le Tellier.

“When we use them they're paid, when we're not using them, they don't get paid,” he said. 

To apply for a position, visit the police department’s website.

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