Point Beach Police Chief Recommends Officers for Promotions

Point Beach Police Chief Kevin O'Hara has told the mayor and Borough Council who he thinks should be promoted.

He won't say who he nominated, just that the process is moving along.

On Monday, O'Hara said he has submitted his recommendations for who gets promoted to lieutenant, and possibly another position, within the 21-member department.

When asked who he is recommending, O'Hara wrote in an email, "That is a personnel matter I cannot discuss with you."

At tonight's Point Beach Council meeting, the agenda for the 6:30 p.m. closed session includes, "Police Contract, Police Personnel."

When asked if he expects the council to, at some point, vote for one or two promotions, O'Hara wrote in an email, "That is the council's discretion. The lieutenant position as well as others positions are being considered by the council."

When asked if he expects promotions to cut back on overtime pay and by how much, O'Hara said, "Yes...At this point I cannot quantify that since I do not know how many promotions there will be or when they will take effect. It’s now March. A quarter of the year is almost over."

The issue of police staffing and police promotions have been hot ones for years in Point Beach,

After much discussion among members of the governing body and the public, it appeared the council may be more amenable to the idea of promoting one or two officers so there will be more high-ranking officers qualified to do numerous tasks now done primarily by Dikun.