By Melissa L. Gaffney, Staff Writer
PLUMSTED The township will look to hire a new police lieutenant following the recent resignation of former Lt. George Titko, said Mayor Ron Dancer, and the process will begin this month.
Since the department now has a vacancy, Mayor Dancer said Tuesday, he and Public Safety Director Michael Lynch will meet before the end of the month with Committeeman Mike Sorchik, liaison to the Police Department.
The three men will discuss the department’s options, whether to promote from within or hire a new officer from outside the department, and they will present a recommendation to the Township Committee, Mayor Dancer said.
In the meantime, Sgt. Robert Pintye will continue to serve as chief law enforcement officer in charge of 11 officers, Mayor Dancer said. Neither Sgt. Pintye nor Mr. Lynch returned a phone call seeking comment before The Messenger-Press deadline.
Mr. Titko has been the subject of a sexual harassment complaint filed in December 2008 by another former officer, Suzanne DesMarais.
Mr. Titko submitted a letter of resignation July 2, two days before a deadline for the township to file charges against him with the Ocean County prosecutor’s office. The former lieutenant resigned in order to avoid administrative charges, Mayor Dancer said.
Mr. Titko did not sign additional paperwork that would prohibit him from working in any other municipal Police Department, the mayor said, he just submitted a letter of resignation.There was a 45-day filing period that followed the prosecutor’s recent internal investigation of the Police Department, after which either the township had to file charges or the officer had to resign, according to the mayor. The investigation came on the coattails of the sexual harassment case Ms. DesMarais filed.
Mr. Titko no longer is receiving administrative leave pay, according to Mayor Dancer. The former lieutenant had been with the Police Department for about 22 years and left making a salary of approximately $70,000, the mayor said.
Mr. Titko will receive health benefits until July 31, Mayor Dancer said, and also will receive 29 days of earned vacation pay.
