By DON STINE
The new Neptune Police Committee is currently reviewing standard operating procedures within the entire police department and some changes have already been made.
Mayor Michael Brantley said several changes have been made to the police department’s operating procedures- ones that make it an across-the-board process for a high-ranking officer, like captain, to be promoted in a fairer manner.
“We want to make sure there is a fair criteria for selecting the deputy chief and other officers and now all three captains will able to apply (for a promotion), Certain criteria are being revised so that more officers are considered for a position,” he said.
“It’s fair and means that nobody will be left out of the process,” he said.
The police department has been without a deputy chief for four years.
Recent changes include eliminating some educational requirements to be considered for promotion and reducing a mandatory 10 years of supervisory experience to five years.
“These matters will be taken into consideration but will not be considered a requirement,” Brantley said.
He said that any recommendations coming from the police committee will need to be approved by the Township Committee before being enacted.
“The governing body will have to approve or disapprove,” he said.
Resident Michael Golub said the police department has had some controversy recently but that there needs to be some consistency and that he “sees this as a good move.”
Brantley said he believes the new police committee “is going along great and making progress.”
“I am confident the rank and file in police department feel the same way,” he said.
The new committee is made up of Mayor Michael Brantley, Deputy Mayor Nick Williams and retired Newark Police Captain Barry Colicelli. The committee will oversee the Neptune police department with the chief running the day-to-day operations.
Creating the new police committee now eliminates the Police Director position, formerly held by township CFO Michael J. Bascom for the last four years, and turns it over to the three-member police committee
