West Wildwood Set to Approve Police Services Agreement with North Wildwood

 West Wildwood, NJ — West Wildwood commissioners are slated to approve a temporary agreement with North Wildwood for police coverage, as the borough faces ongoing challenges in maintaining its police force. The agreement, scheduled to be in effect from July 4 through December 31, 2025, is intended to provide necessary law enforcement services during a time of personnel shortages. The West Wildwood Police Department has seen a significant decline in staff, with 24 officers leaving the force over the last four years. Currently, the department is down to just one officer working three 12-hour shifts per week, prompting the borough to explore shared services with neighboring municipalities. The shared-services agreement, costing West Wildwood $54,167 per month, will allow North Wildwood to temporarily assist with police coverage. While North Wildwood recently expanded its force from 20 to 25 officers, Mayor Patrick Rosenello stressed that this move was unrelated to the agreement. This decision follows a report from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, which recommended disbanding West Wildwood’s police department and entering into a shared-services agreement. Some residents, however, have voiced opposition, arguing that the borough should invest in rebuilding its own police force rather than relying on outside services.