Life After The NJSPCA: Officer Handling 4 Towns In Essex County

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — An officer in the Bloomfield Police Department will be investigating potential animal cruelty cases in the township, as well as Nutley, Caldwell and Glen Ridge, a report says.

Last year, as one of his final acts as governor, Chris Christie signed a bill that disbanded the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NJSPCA).

The power of humane law enforcement was transferred to the county prosecutor in each county. Each township must designate a municipal humane law enforcement officer with an existing police department.

• See related article: NJSPCA Forced To Disband; Says It’s An ‘Unfunded Mandate’

In Bloomfield, that officer is Nick Laratta, who will take on animal cruelty calls in addition to his other duties with the BPD. Laratta will also be responding to calls from Nutley, Caldwell and Glen Ridge, as the towns share services, Essex News Daily reported.

Laratta told Essex News Daily there have been nearly 900 calls this year regarding animal concerns in the four towns, an increase of about one-third since last year. Bloomfield and Nutley residents call the most often, he said. (Read the full article)

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