LAWRENCE: Council OKs ordinance abolishing deputy chief job

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
   With no comment, Township Council gave final approval to an ordinance that abolishes the position of deputy chief of police, as well as one of two captain positions, at its July 17 meeting. The ordinance takes effect Sept. 2.
   The deputy chief of police is the second-in-command in the Lawrence Township Police Department, and the job is now filled by Joseph Prettyman. He has announced his intention to retire. He is currently earning $155,719.
   Neither of the two police captain positions are filled. One position has been vacant for several years, while the other captain’s post was held by Mark Boyd, who retired earlier this year. The police captain’s salary for 2011 was $144,970.
   Municipal Manager Richard Krawczun told the council that Capt. Boyd retired in February and the position has not been filled. He asked for one captain’s position to be authorized, but not funded for 2012. The intent is to keep the position and see if it becomes necessary to fill it, he said.
   Although the deputy chief of police is not among the three police officers in the Police Department slated to be laid off for budgetary reasons, township officials have decided not to fill that slot upon Deputy Chief Prettyman’s retirement.