W. Caldwell Considers Demoting Six Police Officers

West Caldwell’s governing body said Tuesday it will consider a resolution to demote six of the township’s police officers if the Police Benevolent Association would not agree to cost-saving concessions by the next council meeting on March 1.

Council President Richard Otterbein said possible cost-saving actions presented to the bargaining unit of PBA West Essex Local 81 were said to be unacceptable and no counteroffer was made.

The list of officers being considered for demotions was released to Patch Wednesday.

Three of the department’s four lieutenants would be demoted to sergeant:

Lt. Michael P. Moran, Lt. Edward D. Nemeth and Lt. Lawrence J. Peter

Three of the department’s four sergeants would be demoted to patrolmen:

Sgt. Thomas A. Bryant, Sgt. John H. Kopf and Sgt. Daniel W. Gorman

West Caldwell Police Chief Bramhall said Wednesday that if the demotions were to go through the makeup of the 26-officer department would change from four lieutenants and four sergeants to one lieutenant and four sergeants.

The demotion of the six officers would save the township approximately $107,000, according to Councilman Stanley Hladik, chair of the Finance Committee. Bramhall, however, said he estimates the savings would be more like $85,000. He said the money would not be worth the cost to morale.

With less than a month to go until the March 11 deadline to present a preliminary budget to the state, the governing body is struggling with how it will close a gap in the 2011 budget estimated to be anywhere from almost $700,000 to more than a $1 million.

Otterbein said all municipal services were being considered for cuts as a result of the budget gap. In addition to cutting services, the council is considering which full-time municipal employee positions could be made part-time.

“Everything is on the table right now,” Otterbein said.

About half of the officers in the West Caldwell Police Department, and several of their family members, were present at the meeting Tuesday. The audience, which for the most part just sat and listened, was reminded numerous times by the mayor and council that the state has imposed a 2% cap on municipal budget increases.

“This is the law, we don’t have a choice,” Mayor Tempesta said.

One of the officers on the demotion list, Lt. Peter, who has been a member of the West Caldwell Police Dept. for nearly 25 years, stood before the council and said he plans to retire this year. He said his salary would save the township approximately $80,000.

Peter asked the mayor and council to factor his retirement into their decision-making process. 

Bramhall said he remained hopeful on Wednesday that the demotions will not go through. He said, “I am hopeful that they will find the money and an agreement will be worked out."