Public hearing on police director ordinance set for Aug. 15
By Jen Samuel, Managing Editor
HIGHTSTOWN — A public hearing is slated for Aug. 15 regarding an ordinance to dramatically change traditional law enforcement roles in the 1.2 square-mile borough nestled along Route 539 between New York City and Philadelphia.
The proposed amended and supplemented ordinance, 2011-10, creates a new position in which “director” replaces “chief.” However, the every day duties of the director would handle personnel matters, not law enforcement.
"My understanding (is that there) will no longer be a chief if that is enacted. And the director would do the day to day administration,” said Richard Shaklee, Hightstown’s labor attorney, Wednesday.
According to an introduction found online at the borough’s Website, the ordinance establishes “the position of a civilian police director to manage and oversee the day to day operations of the police department.”
If approved, the ordinance would consequently eliminate the highest paid public position in Hightstown. Outgoing police Chief James Eufemia retires Sept. 1, creating, what Councilman Mike Vanderbeck called “a window of opportunity” at the most recent council meeting on Aug. 1. The council unanimously approved the first reading of the ordinance at that meeting, as previously reported.
However, the civilian director would be unable to review any law enforcement documents without a court order, according to South Brunswick police Chief Ray Hayducka, who urged council to continue on with a police chief at last week’s meeting. Chief Hayducka is vice president of the New Jersey Association of Chiefs of Police.
In addition to a court order, Mr. Shaklee said his understanding was that a prosecutor’s permission would also enable a civilian director to review specific law enforcement documents.
A subcommittee of the council, led Council President Larry Quattrone, Councilwoman McGinty and Borough Attorney Fred Raffetto, revised the proposed ordinance several times prior to the council’s approval of its first reading last week.
If the ordinance is approved, which could happen as early as Monday after a public hearing and second reading, Hightstown would join several other New Jersey towns that have opted to replace police chiefs with private citizens, as did Trenton.
The ideal civilian to take the helm of the new civilian safety director would be a retired chief, who is already receiving benefits, said Mayor Steve Kirson during a telephone interview Aug. 2. Additionally, under the new ordinance, the director must have at least ten years experience as either a chief or a captain serving in law enforcement.
Future of police department
One of the first items of business for the new director, if the ordinance becomes law, would be to evaluate the ten police officers working at the Hightstown Borough Police Department, Mayor Kirson said.
"We are hoping to get more guidance from the director,” he said.
Three sergeants, one detective, and six patrol officers serve in Hightstown’s police department. As reported recently in the Herald, the force also includes one K-9 German shepherd named Niko.
After the evaluations, at least one employee would be promoted to lieutenant from sergeant. Those candidates include: sergeant Glen Runge, sergeant Frank Gendron and sergeant Mark Niro.
If the proposed ordinance is approved, in addition to “chief,” the position of “captain” will be eliminated from Hightstown’s Borough Code. Lieutenant would become the highest ranked position of the police department.
In place of a chief, a lieutenant would oversee the daily law enforcement operations in Hightstown. In contrast, a civilian director would lead the administrative side operations, including reporting to Borough Council regularly.
It would become the responsibility of the new lieutenant to report key information, now handled by the chief, to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.
That comes with about a $10,000 increase in pay per year, which stems from an already established contract between the borough and the Police Benevolent Association.
However, “it really doesn’t change very much” in terms of police protocol, according to Mayor Kirson.
There won’t be “any difference to the community as far as safety,” he said last week.
It was unclear as of press time if the council intends to hire more police officers after one or more of the police department’s sergeants are promoted to lieutenant.
"The number of sworn officers in this, or any agency, has some type of impact on public safety,” Chief Eufemia stated in an e-mail to the Herald on Aug. 4.
A public hearing on this matter is slated at the next Borough Council at 7:30 p.m.Aug. 15 at the Borough Hall, 148 North Main St.. To read the proposed ordinance online, visit www.hightstownborough.com.