By Jennifer Ortiz
Staff Writer
HOWELL — The Township Council has adopted an ordinance that amends the Howell Police Department’s educational requirements and allows time served in the military to replace college credits.
The ordinance was adopted on June 13. It states that a police department applicant must be a high school graduate or hold an equivalent degree, and have an associate’s degree, or have 65 college credits and actively be working toward a bachelors degree, or have at least 30 college credits and at least 12 months of active military service, or have at least two years of active military service.
“Do we really want to go down to zero educational requirements? We wanted military preference, not military total exemption,” Councilman Robert Walsh said.
Walsh said he considered a preference to mean all things equal across the board, and having individuals with active military service receive more preference as a result.
Councilwoman Pauline Smith agreed with Walsh and said, “I give the military every respect and credit and appreciation, but we are talking about a police force that protects the community. You need education. The best service in the world is not equal.”
Resident Don Smith, the councilwoman’s husband, said, “I am opposed to this (ordinance). Having spent 10 years in the service, I don’t see how you can equate military experience directly to police (work) and the education required for that.”
Smith said he served shore patrol duty and said he did not believe that experience would have qualified him to be a police officer. He said he learned about electronics, Morse code, radio equipment, leadership and military law.
“Military law, boy, there’s a big difference,” he said.
Deputy Mayor Robert Nicastro said the ordinance “is a tool, an option. Applicants still have to go through the interview process. Just because someone has military (experience) does not mean they are necessarily getting picked over someone who has college. But let me tell you something, and I know firsthand, college does not make a good police officer.”
Councilman Edward Guz said the ordinance would at least get an individual who has military experience an interview.
“What happens to someone who went to combat in Afghanistan, who needs a job and wants to apply?” Guz said. “He might be an outstanding individual who has been decorated for bravery and has served his country honorably. He may have exemplary qualities that far surpass a 21-year-old who has an associate’s degree in fine arts, but who qualifies under these provisions.”
Guz said the amended ordinance will not force Howell’s police chief to hire a veteran if the chief does not believe the individual is qualified.
“It just gives that person a chance to be interviewed,” Guz said.
Resident Barbara Dixel said, “Every cop should have a class in sociology. No matter where the cop comes from or what degree they have, they need Sociology 101 … It makes a better cop out of them, a better human being out of them, and they learn how to deal with people.”
Mayor Bill Gotto said sociology is part of the curriculum at the police academy. In response to another comment from Dixel, the mayor said a psychological evaluation is part of the hiring process.
Gotto, Walsh, Nicastro, Smith and Guz voted to adopt the amended ordinance.