‘You’re Putting my Husband in Harm’s Way,’ Police Wife Tells Board

Middletown Township officials have struck a deal with Sesame Place that will fund the hiring of an additional police officer to help handle incidents at the amusement park.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Pat Mallon hailed the deal as a “win-win” for the township and its residents. He added that the agreement would mean hiring an additional officer would be cost neutral for Middletown.

With the deal starting next week, the township still has yet to hire and train an officer, who will likely not be ready to be stationed at the park until late summer, officials said.

Until the new officer can be trained and deployed, officials confirmed one officer will be taken off street patrol to fill the post at the amusement park, which is owned and operated by Sea World Parks & Entertainment Inc.

Since the September 11, 2001 attacks, police have been stationed at the park, but previously have volunteered for their shifts and were paid overtime. Under the contract approved Monday night, police will only get overtime during June, July and August until the new officer, who will received regular pay is ready.

Sesame Place is contributing $139,256 to pay for a full-time police presence over the first year of the contract. During the days the park is not open, the officer will be free to patrol the township.

Members of the police union, wives of several police officers and some residents voiced concerns that putting an officer in the park full-time starting next week would leave patrol officers short.

“I’m embarrassed by the decision you’re making,” Eileen Forman, wife of a Middletown police officer, said. “You’re putting my husband in harm’s way.”

Forman said she went door-to-door to support many of the candidates now on the board who approved the deal with Sesame Place. “Shame on you”, she told the board.

Melissa Leonhauser – who is married to a Middletown police officer, has two brother-in-laws on the force and is daughter-in-law of board member George Leonhauser – and Forman both raised concerns that the 48-member department is already understaffed on all four squads and taking an officer off the street would risk the lives of officers and civilians.

Resident Jim Jenca told the board he would accept a tax increase if it meant not taking a police officer off the streets and properly staffing all shifts and protecting officers.

Mallon, board members Drew Kreiling and Tom Gallagher, who joined the meeting via a Skype internet video feed, voted for the contract.

George Leonhauser voted against the contract despite earlier supporting the deal with the park, he said.

Supervisor Robert McMonagle was absent from the 5 p.m. meeting, which was held at an early hour to accommodate a business trip Mallon was set to embark on Monday night.

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