WESTWOOD, N.J.—Parking enforcement operations in the borough have moved under the supervision of the Police Department, a change officials say is intended to improve safety, training and efficiency as competition for limited downtown parking continues to grow.
The transition took effect June 1 following action taken by the mayor and council at its May 6 meeting, according to borough officials. Under the new arrangement, enforcement, maintenance and collection functions previously handled by the Westwood Parking Utility have been absorbed by the Police Department.
According to a joint statement issued by Mayor Ray Arroyo and Police Chief Michael Pontillo, the borough will retain the Parking Utility’s administrative structure for policy recommendations and financial oversight. Officials stressed that the utility remains self-funded and does not rely on taxpayer dollars.
Revenue generated through parking operations supports personnel costs as well as maintenance, upgrades and beautification projects at town parking facilities.
Arroyo told us the reorganization was driven less by any specific problem than by broader changes in the character and intensity of activity in Westwood’s central business district. “The concerns were centered on the growing intensity of vehicular and pedestrian activity within the CBD as a regional destination for commerce and commuters and the lack of commensurate growth in our parking inventory,” he said.
Arroyo said the downtown has evolved from a retail district dominated by lightly staffed stores to one increasingly occupied by restaurants and other businesses that generate greater parking demand from both employees and customers.
At the same time, he said, higher-density residential development around the downtown area is placing additional pressure on parking resources already straining during peak periods.
“Parking enforcement is part of a multi-pronged approach to improve the parking experience for our downtown patrons,” Arroyo said. The mayor said the borough has already adjusted zoning policies to limit parking-intensive uses on Westwood Avenue and is planning future parking improvements while reviewing fees, signage and space allocations.
The overall goal, he said, is to maximize the efficiency of existing public parking resources by ensuring that commuter, employee and shopper spaces are used appropriately and that time limits are observed.
Arroyo said the reorganization was not prompted by any specific incident, personnel issue, liability concern or unusual pattern of public complaints. Instead, he described it as part of the governing body’s broader effort to improve operational efficiency. He compared it to the recent hire of a DPW worker who also is an arborist.
As part of the transition, parking enforcement officers, or PEOs, will become certified Class I Special Law Enforcement Officers, or SLEOs, expanding their role beyond issuing parking tickets. Arroyo said “They will be fitted with body cams and have direct communication with WPD supervisory and administrative staff. This will provide a more seamless interface with the general public and a unified consistency in how enforcement and public safety matters are addressed.”
According to borough officials, SLEOs will assist pedestrians crossing streets, direct traffic, address double-parking violations and provide a visible public-safety presence downtown. They will also be able to enforce borough regulations governing bicycles, skateboards, scooters and other “micromobility” devices in the central business district.
Officials said employees have received de-escalation and safety training as part of the restructuring and eventually will attend Class I SLEO certification training through the Bergen County Police Academy. Arroyo said the training is anticipated in early 2027.
“We believe that we will have a safer, better trained and more effective workforce in dealing with parking operations,” the department said in its announcement.
Arroyo said all current parking enforcement officers are eligible to become SLEOs and will remain employed during the transition period. The borough expects to operate a hybrid model until training is completed.
The mayor said staffing levels and hours are not expected to increase. “The additional law-enforcement capabilities add a staff multiplier without adding staff,” Arroyo said.
Officials anticipate savings through reduced vehicle acquisition, maintenance and insurance costs as enforcement shifts toward more foot patrols and targeted responses to problem areas.
The WPD has established parkingcomplaints@westwoodnj.gov for residents and visitors to submit parking-related concerns and suggestions.
The department is launching the transition with a public-awareness campaign, “Compliance, Not Defiance,” urging motorists to pay meters and observe parking regulations. “It is certainly easier to pay the meter than paying, or disputing, a ticket,” the department said. “Help us help you and make downtown Westwood an enjoyable experience for everyone.”
Asked how the lightning-strike-embellished police warning against “defiance” might be received in the community, particularly amid the national climate on government enforcement, compliance, and civil liberties, Arroyo said the message was “simple enough. It’s cheaper for people to observe the parking rules rather than ignore or defy them. That’s a personal choice. We are encouraging people to choose wisely in their own self-interest.”
He said the initiative originated with the governing body, received unanimous council approval and was endorsed by the Parking Utility Advisory Board, previously an independent Parking Authority.
“Our goal is to enhance the viability of the CBD, a $200,000,000 commercial tax ratable which takes a significant portion of the municipal tax burden off the backs of Westwood homeowners,” Arroyo said. “And that starts with the dual tasks of providing adequate public parking and ensuring public safety.”
Editor’s note: Pascack Press has requested records concerning borough parking inventory, parking-utilization data, enforcement activity and the planning process behind the transfer of parking-enforcement functions to the Police Department. We also reached out to the police chief, the Parking Utility, and the council’s Parking Utility liaison for input. We will update this story.