Tell Patch: What Do You Think About the Police Director Plan?
The plan calls for a civilian police director in place of a uniform police chief.
The Hightstown Borough Council is expected to vote at tonight’s meeting to approve the position of a civilian police director in place of the current police chief in what's been touted as a cost saving measure. The ordinance comes after Police Chief James Eufemia announced his retirement in June, which is effective Sept. 1.
Raymond Hayducka, first vice president of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, said that hiring a civilian director would not save money and it’s taking an officer off the street.
"We believe the agency would be best run by a sworn law enforcement officer," Hayducka said.
He added that a civilian police director could not participate in investigations, make arrests or access internal affairs files, and would be limited to administrative duties.
Hightstown Mayor Steven Kirson said a police chief currently costs the borough $175,000 with benefits, and the borough anticipates to hire a civilian police director for around $75,000, saving around $100,000 a year, if the position is approved.
“We will not be loosing a patrol,” Kirson added.
Under the civilian police director plan, it’s anticipated that one of the current sargents would be promoted to lieutenant as the highest ranking uniform officer who would be in charge of day to day operations, but it would ultimately be up to the director, Kirson said.
“We have 10 people on the staff who are experienced and who have served the town … I am confident they will continue to work as they always have with professionalism,” Kirson said.
Patch wants to know what you think about replacing the police chief position with a police director. What do you think about the council potentially approving the plan to hire a civilian police director? Should they keep a uniform police chief as the head of the department?
John Galt
10:42 am on Monday, August 15, 2011
A police chief with life tenure, no accountability, and at a cost of $175,000 is an absurdity for this small town. Police officers in our town with take home pay including overtime of $120,000 a year is absurd as is retirement after 20 years. I would rather close the police department costing us $2.5 million a year and contract for police service form neighboring communities. There is a tyranny of unenforced laws and Borough codes now occurring so why continue with police officers no ones knows by name or face. Our secret police under a police chief who keeps everything secret except the number of gangs in our town needs to be opened to public scrutiny by a civilian director. No more police chiefs in feathered head dress and feathered brains as demonstrated by the polive chiefs association for a department with no scouts or
warriors.
Robert Langdon
11:13 am on Monday, August 15, 2011
No more chiefs of any kind. The New Jersey Police Chief's association tribe is out to scalp us after we have already been scalped. John Galt is right on about the wigwams and teepees we have created along with the feathered headdress. Civilian control and accountability of a $2.5 million operations would be the first step in justifying the hiring of a police service through contracting. We now have a monster that needs to be tamed, controlled and directed by a civilian.
Anne Pistacchio Soden
12:45 pm on Monday, August 15, 2011
You are both spot on!!! You have said it all.
Joe
2:12 pm on Monday, August 15, 2011
Can I get an Amen!!
Kate J Forbes
5:59 pm on Monday, August 15, 2011
Tonight all the crazies will be out to object to the police director ordinance. These include the ultra right voices of Hightstown, the relatives and friends of police officers, the citizens that fear change of any kind and those with vested interests in the status quo. There is no time for further debate or delay since the chief retires September 1 and we have no ordinance in place where Council decides the the leadership of our police department. Do we want more of the same?
Bill
8:44 pm on Monday, August 15, 2011
Chief Eufemia is living proof that we do not need a chief. He has never been available for comment, but when he does speak we then realize why he doesn't like to speak. He is the real winner here. He obviously did something wrong in the past year and now he is able to retire. Why else would everybody be getting lawyers and quitting the borough council. You have given the whole Hightstown Police a bad image. It is good to see Steve supporting this action. When Thibault gets on the council the town should start turning in the right direction. Good job Mcginty.