EAST BRUNSWICK — The administration is planning to change the title of the highest sworn rank of the police department to eliminate redundancies in leadership.
“In the past, our department has been structured so that the deputy chief was the highest sworn rank,” said Deputy Police Chief and Director of Public Safety William Krause Jr.
Under the proposed ordinance change that was introduced at the Sept. 28 Township Council meeting, Krause would take the title of chief, the highest sworn rank in the police department.
At present, the director of public safety can either be a civilian, or the deputy chief can fill the position, taking on both roles.
“The director was appointed by the mayor, with approval of council and was generally a combination of the two positions, said Krause, adding, “the director was not required to be a civilian.”
According to the township code, the director of public safety is the head of the township’s department of public safety, which includes police, fire, EMS and animal control.
“By changing the ordinance, the township will eliminate the deputy chief’s position and place a sworn chief as the head of the agency. This eliminates the need for two positions in the same department,” Krause added.
Under the proposed resolution, the mayor would have the option to appoint a director of public safety.
“The way the code book is going to be written, if adopted by this council, the mayor will always have the ability to either appoint a director of public safety if he or she so chooses,” said Mayor David Stahl at the Sept 28 meeting.
According to the Stahl, the stipend to the director of public safety would also be cut in half to $7,500. If the mayor does not appoint a director of public safety, the police chief would assume those responsibilities.
According to the mayor, this move would be in line with the departmental structure of surrounding communities.
“Our code book, which was written many years ago, created the position of deputy chief. In most surrounding communities, most police officers that have the highest position in the borough is a chief,” said Stahl.
“I believe from an institutional standpoint they’ve earned it, whether it’s Deputy Chief Krause or his successor. They, in my mind, have earned the respect of the mayor, council and police force to be known as the chief.”
The ordinance change is expected to be on the agenda for a public hearing at the Oct. 12 meeting.
Contact Michael Nunes at [email protected].