By Amy Batista
HIGHTSTOWN — The police department has been short-staffed and utilizing overtime.
In an attempt to fill the void, the borough hired a new police officer on June 15.
“I had a conversation with Lt. (Frank) Gendron who advised me as of late last week two officers that are currently on the road will be out indefinitely on non-work related medical issues,” Police Commissioner and Councilman Seth Kurs said.
He said one officer has filed under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for at least 12 weeks off and the other one is off indefinitely until he receives medical clearance.
“Being short-staffed as it is, without the replacement of a full-time officer, every amount of time is going to be on overtime until at least the next conceivable number of weeks,” he said.
The Borough Council appointed Daniel A. Abbatemarco, of Colts Neck, as a Hightstown police officer.
According to the resolution, he is a certified Class II officer who will require a waiver from the New Jersey Police Training Commission (PTC). A PTC waiver is issued to officers who have graduated from a PTC approved academy but require a few more courses of instruction for full certification.
The employment of Officer Abbatemarco will be conditioned upon his passing all applicable borough requirements, according to the resolution.
“We were going through the process and he would’ve been our very next Class II,” Borough Administrator Henry Underhill said.
Councilman Steven Misiura asked what will happen when the two officers out on medical leave come back on duty.
Mr. Underhill said the department would have 12 officers. The department is down to eight officers now.
Mayor Larry Quattrone said the borough never replaced Officer Tyler Bender. Officer Abbatemarco would replace him.
When Councilman Misiura asked if the borough had any other Class II members, the borough clerk said no.
The last Class II officer the borough had was Ryan Buck who was promoted six weeks ago, Mr. Underhill said. He was promoted during the March 17 council meeting.
“He was a Class II shortly; then we had the retirement of Sgt. (Mark) Niro and we are down to eight people actually working and three not working,” he said.
In January, Officer Frank Marchione was charged with being unfit for duty. He has been suspended with pay since Aug. 22, 2013. The borough attorney received transcripts regarding the suspension in the beginning of May and a decision was expected two weeks after that, according to what Mr. Underhill said at the May 4 meeting. Mr. Underhill had no comments or updates regarding the suspension as of June 19.
