Captain Richard Vanderstreet to be Named Cedar Grove's Top Cop

Township Manager Thomas Tucci confirmed to Patch today that Capt. Richard Vanderstreet will be named chief of the Cedar Grove Police Department next month.

"Captain Vanderstreet will be appointed police chief on April 11," Tucci said Tuesday.

Tucci said at Monday's staff meeting that the new chief will be sworn in on April 11, but the governing body convened into executive session before it could be ascertained whether Vanderstreet was his choice.

Tucci was given sole authority to select the next chief when he assumed the role of director of police in October after the council voted to establish the position when former chief Jeffrey Rowe left the department. The department has been without a chief since September.

For months, Tucci has hinted that Vanderstreet was his top choice for the job, but did not officially confirm his selection until today.

Vanderstreet, who Tucci calls "a seasoned veteran", has been on the Cedar Grove Police Department for 29 years.

According to an ordinance recently passed by the Township Council establishing police salaries, Vanderstreet's salary as Captain including longevity and holiday pay is $159,409. It was not immediately known what his salary as chief will be.

Vanderstreet will be sworn in at 7 p.m. on April 11 at Township Hall, 525 Pompton Ave.