College educ. won't be required to join P.D. Proposal will allow chief to recruit cops from other towns BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer "If there is that exceptional individual who does not have college, he is still able to compete." - Thomas Collow police chief OLD BRIDGE - A newly proposed police hiring ordinance will change the requirement for college credits in an effort to give more candidates a chance to join the force. While those with a college education will receive points on the written test for their higher learning, noncollege candidates will still have the opportunity to take the examination, said Township Council President Pat Gillespie. "When we looked at a change, I think the township administration felt very strongly that all of the residents in Old Bridge [should have] an opportunity ... if they wanted to pursue a career with the Old Bridge Police Department," Police Chief Thomas Collow said. The council formed a committee last fall to make changes to the police hiring ordinance in order to bring more diversity to the force. Gillespie, along with councilmen Reggie Butler, Kevin Calogera and Richard Greene teamed up with Collow and the township attorney and business administrator to hash out the details of changes to be made. Though the slated changes originally included a requirement of at least 60 college credits or two years of military service for eligibility, the committee determined over the course of several meetings that the points system would be more appropriate. "It came to be viewed as a barrier ... for people taking the test who otherwise might be qualified," Gillespie said. "I think this is a more realistic way to approach it. I think this accomplishes the same goal." Under the current hiring ordinance, police candidates with college educations receive one additional point for 60 credits and two for 120 credits. If the change goes through, the point values will double, and candidates with a master's degree will receive five additional points. Collow said even without the requirement, past tests have shown that those with college credits had a higher rate of success on the exam. "The college-educated candidate was at the top of the list anyway," Collow said. Results from the last test, given in 2004, proved his point. Out of the Top 20 finishers, 13 had college degrees. Out of the Top 10, eight were degree holders, he said. According to Collow, there are currently officers on the force who are not college educated, and it is important to afford those without degrees an opportunity to be of public service. "If there is that exceptional individual who does not have college, he is still able to compete," Collow said. "We're not closing the door." Another change to the hiring ordinance would allow Collow to recruit two existing officers per year from other municipalities. These officers would not have to undergo the written and physical tests associated with becoming an officer, but would still be subject to a physical examination, psychological tests and interviews, according to Gillespie. Since those recruited officers will not have to be trained, the new practice will conserve taxpayer dollars, he said. The Old Bridge Police Department is at its full strength of 104 sworn officers, but officials have said it is a problem that there are only two women and one African American among them. Gillespie said the goal is to make the force more of a representation of the town's population demographics. Though the amended ordinance was on the agenda for the council's Aug. 13 meeting, it was not voted on because of absentees and late arrivals. Gillespie said he is hoping to get the ordinance passed as soon as possible, so the department can replace its expired list of candidates. Even after the vote, the committee could revisit the ordinance and make further changes in the future, Gillespie said. Collow agreed that action needs to be taken on the ordinance, saying although there are no vacancies now, he does not want to end up in a position where the department ends up having to wait to replace an officer because there is no current list. "There are always police officers eligible to retire, which is why I'd like to move forward," Collow said. "I want to be prepared."