Is a shared service possibly on the horizon?

With reports that Bergen County has awarded a $30k grant to study the feasibility of merging the Teaneck and Bogota police departments, could there be tax savings in our future?

Mayor Hameeduddin said, "At the front end there isn't much, but as people retire you see money saved."

According to census data (which will be updated soon), Bogota is .8 square miles and has a population of 8,249. They currently have 16 police officers. That pales in comparison to Teaneck's 6.25 square miles and a population of 39,260.

If the two municipalities ultimately agree to share police services, Teaneck would become the receiver department and officers from Bogota would wear Teaneck uniforms and patrol in Teaneck police vehicles. The fate of Bogota's police headquarters, located in a wing of the municipal building, is uncertain. McHale speculated it might remain open as a satellite station.

Of course - if they all start wearing Teaneck uniforms and driving in Teaneck squad cars - I'd say it's more like Bogota is hiring a police department than sharing one - but as they say....the devil is in the details.