Moorestown Council Establishes Police Chief Position; Acting Chief Named

Lt. Lee Lieber remains in charge of the Moorestown Police Department, but he has a new title.

Lieber, who has been serving as the Acting Police Director since the previous director Harry Johnson passed away in April at the age of 62, was named Acting Police Chief on Tuesday, one day after council created the position.

Council voted 4-0 to replace the Police Director position with the position of Police Chief during its meeting Monday night at town hall.

Township Manager Scott Carew appointed Lieber to the position on Tuesday. He said the process to appoint a permanent chief would take place in 2016, under the necessary Civil Service guidelines.

The police chief’s salary will be set at between $110,000 and $165,000. The longevity cap will be set at $8,580.

The reason for the change is a public safety director is not permitted to carry a gun or drive a police car with lights on it, as it is 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.

On Monday night, council also gave final approval to an ordinance to appropriate $205,000 and borrow $194,750 to purchase police vehicles and equipment.

Council also approved an ordinance on introduction that, in part, establishes a pay range of $20-$30 an hour for a Class II Special Law Enforcement Officer.

The other part of the proposed ordinance establishes a salary range of $40,000-$95,000 a year for Sub-Code Officials/Inspectors for building, electrical, plumbing and fire.

The public hearing and final approval of this ordinance is scheduled for the Dec. 14 meeting.