Ordinance Would Reinstate Chief of Police Rank in Cedar Grove

After six months without a police chief in Cedar Grove, the township could be mere weeks away from re-establishing the position.

The township council introduced an ordinance at its public meeting Monday that if passed, would reinstate the rank of chief of police.

The position has remained vacant since former chief Jeffrey Rowe announced he was leaving the department last July after 32 years with the department and 12 as chief. Rowe has been on terminal leave, collecting a salary drawn from unused vacation and sick time but not reporting to duty, since August. He came off the department's payroll on Dec. 31.

In Rowe's absence, Township Manager Thomas Tucci assumed the role of director of police in October, after the council voted to create the position in September.

At the Oct. 18 council meeting, Tucci said he would appoint Cedar Grove Police Capt. Richard Vanderstreet as chief of police after several retirements in the works freed up the funds to do so.

"We do not have the money to pay anybody right now, but I intend to appoint Vanderstreet in the first quarter of 2011 after the retirements are finalized," Tucci said in October.

In an interview following that meeting, Tucci called Vanderstreet "a seasoned veteran," adding "As long as Captain Vanderstreet is still with the department, I will appoint him."

Vanderstreet has been with the Cedar Grove Police Department for 29 years.

After Monday's council meeting, Tucci stopped short of definitively saying Vanderstreet would be named chief, but did say "If I were a betting man," Vanderstreet would be the choice.

The ordinance will be given a public hearing and voted on at the council's March 21 meeting.