By Steve Sears

Picture this. Prior to there being a Bloomingdale Police Department, there was Auburn Taylor, who was assigned to patrol the streets of the borough seven nights a week from 4:00 p.m. to midnight.

He did so in street clothes.

Fast forward to 2019, the current Bloomingdale Police Department, which was formally created in 1934, consists of 17 full-time officers, three Class III special officers, one full-time dispatcher, six part-time dispatchers, one part-time secretary and six crossing guards.

“The Bloomingdale Police has a long, proud history that dates back to the 1914 when Auburn Taylor patrolled the town. It is amazing that he worked 7 days a week!” says Chief of Police since 2007, Joseph Borell. “Like Auburn Taylor in 1914, todays members of the Bloomingdale Police department remain committed to the safety and protecting the people who live and/or frequent Bloomingdale.”

The mission statement is four-fold:

The mission of the Bloomingdale Police Department is to prevent crime,

preserve order and to protect the rights, lives and

property of the citizens of Bloomingdale.

The success of the mission depends upon a continuous effort to

increase awareness and develop higher levels of trust and

understanding among police officers and the community.

We shall continuously strive towards attaining excellence by

providing our employees with fair and effective leadership,

supervision and training.

In accomplishing these goals; service will be our commitment;

honor and integrity our mandate.

Bloomingdale is 7.29 square miles, and much of that size consists of Norvin Green Forest. Bloomingdale officers also assist the Riverdale, Butler, Wanaque and West Milford police departments if needed.

Most important is that the Bloomingdale Police Department is also a New Jersey Law Enforcement Accredited Agency. The process requires compliance with a series of professional standards designed specifically for New Jersey law enforcement agencies, and the state rigorously inspects to make sure the specific police department is complying. The Bloomingdale Police Department was awarded accreditation in 2014, was re-accredited in 2017, and again is seeking re-accreditation.

In addition to protecting the borough, the Bloomingdale Police Department gives back to the community in many ways. Consider the recent holiday party for the Bloomingdale Senior Citizens at the Senior Center. Dinner and dessert were enjoyed by the attendees, and all the volunteers of the BPD volunteered to help with set-up, serving the food and cleanup, but officers also sat with seniors, listened to their concerns and engaged in casual conversation. Also, Bloomingdale Police officers grew beards in the month of November (coined “No Shave November”) to support those suffering with cancer. In addition, participating members each donated their own money to put toward making a departmental donation to a resident suffering from cancer to help ease their financial burden.

The above is just a brief sampling of the charitable efforts where the department gives back, and that makes Chief Borell proud. “I am very proud to oversee such a fine Police Department. We will continue to strive to provide the most proficient and outstanding law enforcement services we possibly can. As a police department we are proud of the fact that we have great working relationships with our residents as well as our business partners. Our objective is to keep your family safe, in a great community that we can all feel good about.”

For more information about the Bloomingdale Police Department, visit www.bloomingdalepolice.com.