Hightstown to Hire Civilian to Head Police

The Hightstown Borough Council plans to appoint a civilian public safety director instead of filling the vacated position of police chief after its current chief retires in September.

The move, according to officials, could save the borough money and give it control it has lacked over a Police Department the council says has been mired in controversy in the past.

Chief James Eufemia last month that he would be retiring from his position in September.

At last month’s council’s meeting, Mayor Steven Kirson said the chief's retirement package should cost the borough between $20,000 and $25,000. A public safety director/police director, on the other hand, would have a lower salary and fewer benefits.

The civilian position would not be given a municipal car and would not conduct traffic stops, wear a uniform or carry a firearm.

The council created a subcommittee of two coucil members to review a draft ordinance prepared by Borough Attorney Frederick Raffetto, which will make recommendations for further revisions to the draft. Some audience members said members of the public should be included in the subcommittee.

The borough hopes to have a police director/public safety director in place before Chief Eufemia retires. There are three regular Borough Council meetings left before Sept. 1. If the council does not introduce the ordinance at the next meeting, July 18, it will likely be introduced at the first August meeting on Aug. 1 according to Raffetto.

The borough will be searching for someone with at least five years experience in public safety, public administration and policy and/or law enforcement.

Raffetto said that the draft model of the police director/public safety director position was taken from the cities of Hoboken, Long Branch, New Brunswick, Neptune, Newark, Trenton and borough of Belmar.

“Based on my review of the sample ordinances that we assembled, it appeared that ‘Police Director’ was more appropriately used in cases where the individual’s responsibilities were limited to oversight of the police department (only).  In contrast, the term ‘Public Safety Director’ was generally used in cases where the individual’s authority was to extend beyond the Police Dept. and to include oversight of the Fire Dept. and emergency management services as well.”