Police union officials opposed the move.
JERSEY CITY -- A $9.6 million proposal to replace police officers with security guards at various city locations was pulled from consideration at the last minute during tonight's City Council meeting.
The plan would have led to armed guards replacing police officers guarding City Hall and the court, and unarmed guards at other locations, like the Mary McLeod Bethune Life Center.
Police union officials and the mother of slain Police Det. Melvin Vincent Santiago appeared at the meeting to oppose the measure, which also faced opposition from a number of council members.
"Nothing is better than a police officer," Carmine Disbrow, president of the Jersey City Police Officers' Benevolent Association, said tonight after an administration said the measure would not be voted on. "Nothing can replace a police officer, especially a security guard."
Cathy McBride, Santiago's mother, said she feared replacing cops with security guards would put more people in danger. Santiago was killed on July 13, 2014 with a handgun stolen from a security guard at the Walgreens at Communipaw Avenue and Kennedy Boulevard.
"My son is gone because a security guard allowed someone to take his weapon," she said.
The contract for Newark-based Gateway Security would have cost $9,585,399 over the course of five years. Administration officials on Monday said hiring security guards would allow the police officers who guard City Hall, the municipal court and other buildings to go back on patrol.
It's not clear whether the measure would have passed tonight. Five council members, including Councilman Rich Boggiano, a retired police detective, were opposed to the move.
"We don't need security guards," Boggiano told The Jersey Journal. "We need police."
Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.
