Borden Said Kasko Column Has Potential to Affect Police Morale

Haddonfield Commissioner Ed Borden recently criticized Commissioner Jeff Kasko for an opinion column he wrote in a local paper.

“What concerned me about that column—and I’m sure you’ll appreciate it’s a very sensitive issue—this is a matter of substantial concern to them,” Borden said. “And then reading a column about a matter that would affect the department of public safety very substantially… I can tell you the column has the potential to be a morale issue in the department.”

Borden, a former Camden County prosecutor, the top law-enforcement official in the county, oversees the borough police department as part of his responsibilities as a Haddonfield commissioner. Borden, Kasko and Tish Colombi, the mayor, make up the borough Board of Commissioners, the highest elected officials in Haddonfield.

Kasko’s column appeared in the Aug. 3 edition of the Haddonfield Sun. He wrote about a county initiative to consolidate more than 30 police and fire departments.

In the piece, Kasko argued that consolidating fire departments is not necessary because the fire department is largely volunteer and creating a county force would lead to paid firefighters, which would cost more. He also said local fire departments already cooperate on a number of issues, including fire calls. But the consolidation of the police could be potentially save the borough money, but included substantial risks, Kasko wrote.

“The idea of sharing or regionalizing local police services deserves serious and careful consideration,” Kasko wrote. “The cost efficiencies involving personnel, equipment and overhead could be substantial. Don’t get me wrong—I am passionate about finding cost-savings, lowering the property tax burden, and eliminating duplication of services in government. But I’m also just as concerned about providing quality services and enhancing public safety. Some things are worth paying for—and you’ll pay the price… It’s hard to imagine a county police force measuring up to our local department.”

Kasko said he and the other commissioners were invited by the Sun to write four columns each per year. He said the other commissioners don’t write the columns and he does. In the meeting, he told Borden his column was not advocating county consolidation and that several police officers had thanked him for the column.

“There are lots of ways to read that article,” Borden said.

Colombi also took issue with the column.

“I think it’s just a courtesy that if you’re going to write about someone else’s department to let them know,” Colombi said.

“I don’t think I need to check with you on broad opinions like that,” Kasko responded.

Police Chief John Banning echoed Borden’s concern about the column.

“I’m not saying the editorial by itself was the issue," he said. "It’s more a concern about what’s going on with the Camden County Freeholders and the lack of the information from the county. You’re talking about people’s livelihoods.”

The freeholders are the highest elected officials in the county.