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FLORENCE: Police leadership rooted in township

Police ceremony held for chief, captain

By Amy Batista, Special Writer
   FLORENCE — At a swearing-in ceremony Feb. 20, two Florence Township policemen — Capt. Brian Boldizar and Chief Alvin Scully — were officially promoted.
   Both men were appointed to their specific supervisory roles at the end of last year on a provisional basis.
   ”Once Civil Service confirmed that both officers were permanently approved for their respective positions, we held a formal swearing-in,” said Township Administrator Richard Brook on Tuesday.
   ”We are a department governed by Civil Service rules for hiring and promotion,” said Detective James Ford, president of Florence Township Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 210, on Feb. 21.
   ”Captain Boldizar was promoted to the position of captain after scoring No. 1 in our department on the Civil Service captain’s promotional exam,” Detective Ford said. “In addition to the Civil Service promotional selection process, both Capt. Boldizar and Chief Scully attended and graduated the prestigious West Point Command and Leadership School.”
   Former Florence Township Police Chief Stephen Fazekas, who retired last March, attended the Feb. 20 police ceremony, held during the Township Council meeting.
   The police chief’s brother, Keith Scully, who serves as chief of the Florence Township Fire Department, was in attendance.
   Mayor Craig Wilkie said, “This is a great opportunity and honor for the community — especially the Scully family — a family that has been committed to (Florence).”
   At the start of the ceremony, Florence police officers entered and surrounded Township Council members. They were joined in the back of the room by members of the Fire Department and the Florence Rescue Squad.
   Mayor Wilkie administered the oath of office to Capt. Boldizar as the captain’s wife, Dawn, and sons, Matthew, 7, and Brandon, 5, stood by his side.
   ”We have some good times here at meetings, and tonight’s another special time,” Mayor Wilkie said. “Tonight, you see two officers who have spent their careers here in Florence rising to the ranks because they are well deserved.”
   The captain’s wife said she was excited for her husband and recognized him for “accomplishing his goal.”
   Both the chief and captain are career members of the Police Department and fire company, the mayor said.
   ”These are gentleman, who have committed their lives to this community,” Mayor Wilkie said referring to emergency services.
   When Mayor Wilkie administered the oath of office to Chief Scully, he was joined by his family, including his daughter, Stacia Virula; granddaughters, Sierra Scully, 5, and Sedona Scully, 9, his son, Daniel Scully, who is a Florence police officer; the chief’s girlfriend, Amy Wright, and her son, Tyler Wright, 17.
   ”Thank you all for coming,” said Chief Scully, adding that having his family with him was “the highlight.”
   Chief Scully continued, “Additionally, I was really warmed by the attendance by almost all of my officers. They are truly a bunch of professionals that do the best job that they can and try to represent our municipality to the best of our ability.”
   Chief Scully, of Florence, was hired in January 1985.
   He was appointed police chief on a provisional basis Dec. 20.
   The chief’s salary then increased to $113,830 from his previous captain’s salary of $109,410 per year, according to Mr. Brook.
   This is the chief’s 29th year with the Police Department.
   ”I served as the chief law enforcement officer and acting chief since March 1, 2012,” Chief Scully said Feb. 21.
   ”When I was 17, I joined the Roebling Fire Department as a junior member, and at age 18, I joined the Florence Emergency Squad and eventually the Roebling Rescue Squad,” Chief Scully said. “I think that the experiences that I was involved in with those organizations led to a desire to be a part of the emergency services as I am somewhat of an adrenaline junkie.”
   The Roebling Fire Department later merged with the Florence Township Florence Department.
   ”While working with the firetrucks and ambulances, I got a firsthand view of what police officers did and it looked like something that I would really enjoy doing,” Chief Scully added.
   Looking ahead, Chief Scully said he is looking to expand the technology capabilities of the department, including “word recognition software to streamline report writing, upgrading our computer systems and looking to increase officer safety with more information available to them immediately while on patrol.”
   Ms. Wright said, “It’s very well deserved. He is totally devoted to the community.”
   ”A chief is only as good as those who work for him or her,” Chief Scully told the Register-News. “I am extremely pleased with my staff and how they perform. Any time that I look good it is because of the thoroughness of the job that the officers have done. I strongly feel that change is good. It is often met with opposition, but change stimulates us to focus on new tasks. It helps to subdue boredom and gives some new goals. My predecessors had good ideas, and I will work off of those.”
   Said the chief’s son, Daniel Scully, “I would just like to say how proud I am of my father.”
   ”He is hard working and honest,” he told the Register-News on Tuesday.
   ”My favorite part of the swearing-in was being able to stand beside him as an officer of this department and being a part of his accomplishments,” the chief’s son said.
   At the conclusion of the meeting, Detective Ford invited everyone to attend a small reception at the FOP lodge, Seventh and Main streets, in honor of the newly promoted officers.
   ”On behalf of the Florence Township Police, both our local Lodge 210 and the state FOP, I would like to congratulate Chief Scully and Captain Boldizar in their success and their official swearing-in tonight,” Detective Ford said.
   Captain Boldizar started with the Police Department in July 2000. He was promoted to captain on a provisional basis Nov. 28.
   At that time, he began receiving a captain’s salary of $109,410 on a provisional basis, according to the Florence Township administrator. His previous sergeant’s salary brought in $94,892 annually.
   ”I have always had an interest in public safety,” Capt. Boldizar said Feb. 25. “When I joined the Florence Township Fire Department as a volunteer firefighter, that interest grew.”
   Over time, Capt. Boldizar said he developed friendships with local police officers during his time as a volunteer. He then became interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement.
   As was the case for Chief Scully, for Capt. Boldizar, the highlight of the swearing-in ceremony “was being able to have my family stand up with me.”
   A native of Florence, “I have the privilege to work in the town where I grew up,” the captain said.