With less than two weeks until Sesame Place’s season opening, Middletown supervisors have postponed voting on a agreement that would provide the amusement park with a full-time cop over the summer months.
The agreement, as proposed, would require Middletown to station the officer at the park whenever it’s doors are open, which is around 12 hours a day, seven days a week.
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But several police officers who attended the Monday night Supervisors meeting complained about the proposal. They said the agreement, as proposed, would reduce police coverage elsewhere in the township.
“It would take an officer off the streets, with no replacement. And how do you cover a 12 hour shift (at Sesame Place) with just one guy?” one officer asked.
“And if an arrest is made, it takes an additional two or three officers to handle it,” he added.
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Police PBA president Ed DiFrank said Middletown is already short handed, especially in the busy summer months.
In years past, officers stationed at Sesame Place would get overtime pay. Under the current proposal, an officer would get regular pay.
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“Sesame is a multi-national company,” another cop said. “You have to consider that less than 1% of the people who go there don’t live in Middletown Township. There should be a better agreement than this. ”
Sesame Place has hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. It is one of the biggest tax revenue generators in Middletown Township.
Meanwhile, Supervisor Chairman Pat Mallon said the township is still gathering more info, and will vote on the proposal at a later date.
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“We don’t have any purvue over tactical police department issues,” Mallon said when asked about police complaints. “A supervisors meeting isn’t the proper place to discuss those details,” Mallon added.
Sesame Place, which is owned by Sea World Parks & Entertainment Inc, had asked for this new agreement as a way to save on overtime fees.
