Appointment comes after restructuring of department
By:Vanessa S. Holt
FLORENCE – A yearlong effort to restructure the township Police Department culminated last week with the permanent appointment of a new police chief.
Gordon Dawson, 48, who was sworn in as a captain in August, once again took an oath of office at the Sept. 6 Township Council meeting, when he was officially named chief.
The position was reinstated by the council on Aug. 2. The department had operated under a civilian director of public safety instead of a chief since the last chief, the late Richard Yurcisin, retired in 1999 and the position was eliminated by Mayor George Sampson.
The 23-member police force now includes the chief, a captain, and five sergeants in addition to 16 patrolmen.
"I am really pleased to accept this challenge," said Chief Dawson of his new leadership position.
As police chief, he will be responsible for day-to-day operations of the Police Department, and "ensuring that the community is delivered the services they are entitled to," he said.
Among his goals as chief are increasing the police presence in neighborhoods that have been experiencing disruption from disorderly youths and drug sales.
"We plan to increase our community presence even more than in the past, as manpower permits," he said.
Chief Dawson, currently in his 18th year with the department, has lived in the township for 25 years with his wife, Debra. The couple have been married for 28 years and have one daughter, who is 27.
As a resident of the community which he serves, Chief Dawson said he has a vested interest in making it the best community in which to live.
He plans to live in the township after he retires, he said. With 18 years of service under his belt, he will be eligible to retire in seven years.
Administrative duties in the reorganized Police Department are divided between the captain and chief. The salary for police chief is $75,000, said Mayor Michael Muchowski, who recommended that council appoint Capt. Dawson to the position.
"I felt he brought a lot of experience, level-headedness and a knack for the administrative end of the job," said Mayor Muchowski. "He seemed to have a lot of the same ideals I had, as far as community policing, and the direction the department is going in."
Although there are no more changes immediately planned in the department, Mayor Muchowski said they are "always looking at ways to make it better."
There also are no plans to fill the position of captain vacated by Capt. Sefton Sutphin, who retired in June. Capt. Sutphin was awarded a claim for $175,000 for unpaid compensatory, sick and vacation time with the stipulation that he must retire.
Several officers are expected to retire in the next three years, said the mayor, who added that discussions have begun about how to rebuild the police force when the retirements begin.