Township Councilmen Upset About Timing of Police Promotions

Members of the Washington Township council said they were upset police promotions went through over the weekend without their knowledge because they were in the midst of discussing the elimination of captain from the department.

Councilman Joseph D'Urso had . At the time he said it was a way to save the township money and didn't take anything away from the police because the position was vacant.

During the council meeting Monday night, Mayor Janet Sobkowicz announced that Glen Hooper was promoted from lieutenant to captain Saturday. The same day, Gregg Hackbarth was promoted from sergeant first class to lieutenant.

Sobkowicz said "cost factors worried me," but explained both men agreed to stay at the same pay rate through the end of the year. She added that Police Chief Randy Ciocco and Police Director William Cicchetti recommended the promotions in December 2010.

D'Urso questioned why the promotions had to be done now when there was an ordinance about the police table of organization before the governing body for review.

"I'm very upset about this. I'm not taking it away from the police officers. They probably are deserving of it," D'Urso said. "Would it have been so bad to wait? I don't think it would've been."

He said that although "my plans have gone out the window," he would still ask the council to consider the table of organization ordinance and eliminating the rank of captain through attrition.

D'Urso said he had hoped to have the council introduce an ordinance Monday to remove several ranks from the department. He said he wanted to eliminate the ranks of captain, second class sergeant, patrolman first class and patrolman second class. He said he also wanted to eliminate a lieutenant and one of the six sergeants by attrition. Instead of a captain, he suggested having a first lieutenant. He said he would like to keep the positions of detective sergeant and sergeant first class "because I still think that's important."

Sobkowicz questioned the need of a first lieutenant if there was only going to be one other lieutenant on the force. "What is point of having a first lieutenant and a lieutenant?" she asked. "It's not like we have a first lieutenant and five lieutenants and you need someone in charge of the lieutenants."

D'Urso said it came down to morale and he made his recommendations based on disucssions he had with members of the police department.

Sobkowicz said she would like the council to keep the rank of captain in the table of organization.

Council members decided not to introduce the ordinance Monday night, but D'Urso said he wanted to continue discussions on the issue with the governing body and police, and the other councilmen agreed.

"We're not going to drop the police ordinance. We're going to revise it and restructure it," said council Vice President Steve Cascio. "I hope in the future we are at least advised when the administration is considering something so all the work the council puts into a project is not for fun and games."