Washington welcomes new chief, new uniforms and new attitude.
By: Mark Moffa
WASHINGTON A lot has changed within the Police Department since March.
The obvious change is that Chief Paul Krych and Lt. Ralph Fiasco resigned amid controversy and allegations of harassment and intimidation.
But other changes have taken place as well, many attempting to address complaints several members of the department aired anonymously in a March 15 article in The Messenger-Press.
"We have a completely new management team and style in place," outgoing Administrator Dick Van Noy said.
He was referring to Acting Chief Robert Woodruff, who was promoted from lieutenant to acting chief in October and became chief Tuesday, and Martin Masseroni, who in October was promoted from lieutenant to captain a new position for the department.
The two department leaders have vowed to maintain better communication with the township; township officials griped that they were not kept informed of the department’s operations and problems under the previous leadership.
Other promotions are scheduled tonight, when the department will promote two sergeants to lieutenant and two officers to the sergeant level. The promotions will be based on the results of recent exams.
Three new officers will be hired to replace the spots vacated by Chief Krych, Lt. Fiasco and Patrol Officer Anthony DeAngelo, who left after an injury.
Two new dispatchers will be added to the force in January as well, Mr. Van Noy said.
"Sometimes there is a gap of time when someone is sick or on vacation when a sergeant or officer has to dispatch," he said. The addition of two new dispatchers should alleviate that problem.
"The whole department is really kind of getting a new image and a face-lift," Mr. Van Noy said.
That face-lift extends beyond personnel changes.
"We’re in the process of establishing a bike unit," Acting Chief Woodruff said.
He said the Sharbell Development Group has pledged to provide the department with a building in the Town Center area for a police substation.
Using $5,000 donated from Lucas Electric and $2,500 from Sharbell, the department is buying four new bicycles, bringing their total to five. The money also will allow the department to outfit nine officers for bike patrol.
Acting Chief Woodruff said bike patrols will begin in the spring, and all township developments will be patrolled by bike not just Town Center.
The department’s rarely used motorcycle recently was sold for $10,000 to help pay for new equipment. A $75,000 state grant was received for equipment as well, along with a $5,000 grant for domestic violence programs.
The money for equipment was used by the department to buy new guns for the officers, arming the force with weapons on par with those used by most Mercer County departments. Several members of the department complained in March that the weapons used by the officers 9 mm Smith & Wessons were outdated. Officers now carry .40-caliber Glocks.
A uniform change occurred over the summer as well. The Washington Township uniform now features a yellow stripe on the side of the pant legs. Acting Chief Woodruff said this a safety feature to improve an officer’s visibility in the dark.
Members of the department earlier this year voiced concerns about two-way radios and flashlights that would die while in use. The radios were old, Acting Chief Woodruff said, and the department did not have enough for each officer, so they had to share. This led to a problem, he said, because there was not enough time to charge the radios between shifts.
Now, Acting Chief Woodruff said, there will be 27 radios each officer will be issued his or her own. New flashlights have been purchased as well.
Several patrol cars have been outfitted with computers that allow officers to input license plate numbers to instantly discover if a car is stolen or if the owner is wanted. And cameras have been installed in two cars, providing audio and video support for officers making car stops.
Acting Chief Woodruff has other hopes for the department as well, including the institution of a "Class B," or dress-down uniform. The uniform, which he said most departments have, would be for use during stormy weather or quasi-duty.
Acting Chief Woodruff and Capt. Masseroni have maintained the same level of communication with township officials that occurred during the tumultuous events within the department earlier this year.
Mr. Van Noy said he meets with the Policemen’s Benevolent Association every other month something he said the new administrator, Jack West, will continue. Mr. Van Noy said the meetings are not intended so township officials can interfere with the department’s activities. He said officials simply want to know what is going on within the department.
"You can’t operate in a vacuum. You need to have input," he said.
Acting Chief Woodruff said he is grateful for the help the department received from the committee this year, and the cooperation he has received from his comrades within the department.
Mr. Van Noy said the current leadership in the Police Department is sensitive to the changing needs of Washington Township. He said the bike patrol is one example of adaptation.
"The old days and the view of the police officer (simply) going out and issuing tickets are gone," he said.