Moorestown Considers Replacing Public Safety Director Position With Police Chief

Moorestown is changing the way its police department is structured.

Council approved an ordinance on first reading that would replace the position of police director with a police chief Monday night.

Township Manager Scott Carew said the change benefits the department because a safety director is not permitted to carry a gun or drive a police car with lights on it. It is typically a civilian position.

While a police chief might not be out on the streets on patrol in the traditional sense, the person in that position is able to get out and meet the public and be a representative of the police department.

The public hearing and second reading is scheduled for the Nov. 30 meeting. Should council approve the new position, a search to fill the position would begin immediately.

Lt. Lee Lieber has been serving as the Acting Police Director since the previous director Harry Johnson passed away in April at the age of 62.

Johnson served with the Moorestown Police Department for 31 years, and became Police Director in August of 1999.

Moorestown was one of two towns in the county that uses a public safety director as opposed to a police chief.

According to the proposed ordinance:

The Chief shall have full charge and control of the apparatus and equipment of the Department and its assignment and use, and shall be held responsible for its care, cleanliness, and safekeeping, and render a strict account thereof when called for by the Township Manager.

To see the full proposed ordinance, click here.

Moorestown also approved an ordinance on first reading that would set the police chief’s salary at between $110,000 and $165,000. The longevity cap is set at $8,580.

The second reading of that ordinance is also set for Nov. 30.