Metuchen reinstates lieutenant rank in police Officer would be responsible for night police work BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer After a decade without a lieutenant position, Metuchen Police Chief James Keane hopes to implement the high-ranking position as soon as possible. "This lieutenant position is so important and is definitely needed in our department," he said. "I believe it is going to increase our effectiveness and reduce liabilities." The Borough Council unanimously adopted an ordinance at a council meeting on April 21 allowing the creation of the lieutenant position. "Year after year since 1998, I have been trying to reinstate the position," said Keane, who was the last lieutenant in the department before he became police chief in 1998. "[For] reasons unknown to me, the position of lieutenant was never filled. This year, I was able to convince the mayor, council, and borough administrator of the need." Another positive aspect of having a lieutenant position, Keane said, was the officer would not be part of the bargaining unit, which the five sergeants are currently part of. Keane said the implementation of a lieutenant position was recommended in an audit prepared by the state Department of Community Affairs (DCA) in 2006 and was also recommended in other internal affair audits done on the police department prior to 2006. The DCA audit in 2006 stated that the lieutenant position would enable the police department to maintain proper command staff. "The lieutenant will allow the police administration to implement the proper unity of command and organizational structure for a department of this size [28 police officers]," the audit said. Mayor Thomas Vahalla said the lieutenant position would satisfy the DCA's recommendation looking at a nighttime supervisor for the police department five days a week. "The money, which we are talking minimal money, is already in this year's police budget for the lieutenant position," said Vahalla. Keane said he is in the process of interviewing the current eligible sergeants for the lieutenant position. "The lieutenant will give us a level of supervision in the evening hours when I am not here," he said. "The hours will most likely be from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. On occasion, the lieutenant will be in during the days, keeping an eye on things, answering questions, serving and responding to other entities." Currently, the police department has police chief, a captain, and five sergeants. "Unfortunately with the implementation of the lieutenant position, we will not be able to replace the position with a patrolman," said Keane. "Ideally we would like to replace the position with an additional patrolman; however, a patrolman will be promoted to a sergeant position. We will stay at 28 police officers, which according to the DCA and other studies is not the minimum amount of officers we should have, but we will get by." The DCAaudit recommended a staff of 29 police officers. Vahalla said he hopes to get a recommendation by the chief and Capt. Robin Rentenberg for the lieutenant position by the May 5 Borough Council meeting. "Then the council will conduct interviews, and we could appoint the person to the lieutenant position at our May 19