Police Promotion Process Explained

The Madison Borough Council this week approved a new law outlining the process for hiring new police officers and promoting officers to the ranks of chief, captain, lieutenant and sergeant.

"We have created a comprehensive police promotional ordinance," borough attorney Matt Giacobbe said when the ordinance was introduced on Nov. 5. "It covers from the hiring of patrol officers all the way to the promotion of chief."

Before the law, there was no ordinance and hiring and promotions were done under police rules and regulations.

The change comes at a time when Madison will be promoting a new, permanent police chief. John Trevena retired as chief, Jerry Mantone was appointed acting chief and then also retired. Darren Dachisen is the acting chief.

"It sets forth the rule of the game, so that anybody who wants to become a police officer in <adison, or any police officer who wants to get promotoed to sergeant, lieutenant, captain or ultimately chief,  knows what the rules are, what;s expected of them, what will be used as the criteria," Giacobbe said.

Council President Jeannie Tsukamoto, the governing body's public safety liaison, said it is very similar to past practice in the police department.

"It is very important for us to have a well thought out, consistent and documented process for the hiring and promotion for the police department," she said.

A PDF of the law is attached to this article.