Police Chief Benjamin Ruiz

PERTH AMBOY – Several residents were not happy when the Perth Amboy Police Department was assigned to security duty for Super Bowl XLVIII which took place in New Jersey.

This was questioned at the 3/24/14 Caucus Meeting. Ken Balut felt that this was another unnecessary police assignment. There were expenses the City had to pay for associated with the Super Bowl. Balut felt that the Super Bowl Committee should have been responsible for these expenses.

Police Chief Ben Ruiz responded to Balut’s questions. “Police boats were assigned to the Super Bowl in ten hour shifts, which the City paid for. We are part of the homeland security taskforce. New Brunswick had personnel, too. We also went down to Secaucus.”

Former Councilman Fernando Gonzalez said, “The police and fire boats are costing the City. We shouldn’t use them for any events that don’t affect the City.”

Resident Alan Silber agreed with both Balut and Gonzalez, “If Perth Amboy provides security for extraordinary events such as the Super Bowl, we should be compensated.”