Point Boro Hires Four New Police Officers

Point Borough Council hired four new police officers on Tuesday night who are expected to be fully trained by Nov. 1.

Council members voted unanimously to hire the four, with each starting at a salary of $36,356, bringing the total for four to $145,424. The hires bring the total number of officers to 33.

David Ippolito, Nicholas Rossi, Jesse Waterson, who is a volunteer with the Borough Fire Department, and Travis G. Popiel, a Borough police dispatcher, were sworn in as officers at the Tuesday night council meeting at Borough Hall.

They will begin training at the Ocean County Police Academy on Thursday, finish on September 18, and then undergo field training with Borough officers, with each rookie riding with an officer for eight weeks, said Chief Larry Williams after the meeting.

By Nov. 1, the officers will likely have finished training and be working in patrol cars alone, Williams said.

The hires help supplement the force at a time when there are a few retirements, which may lead to a few promotions in the future. So far, none have been authorized so far.

Lt. Michael Colwell retired April 1 at an annual salary of $133,000, after 27 years in the department, said Williams.

At a March 21 council budget workshop meeting, where police hires, retirements, priorities and capital budget needs were discussed, Williams said Sgt. Leon Downs is his "first choice" to be promoted to lieutenant and replace Colwell.

"I need to replace Lt. Colwell as soon as possible," Williams told the council at the March meeting.

Just after the March meeting, Williams said promoting a sergeant to a lieutenant is an increase of $18,000 and from a patrolman to a sergeant is also $18,000.

He said the department is down officers, including those at the upper levels.

Sgt. Jeffrey Maves, earning $115,000 annually, is retiring July 1 after 25 years with the department.

Lt. Todd Springsteen, earning $133,000 annually, has said he is planning to retire on Feb. 1, although he has not yet submitted his paperwork, Williams said.

At the March 21 budget workshop meeting, council members listened to Williams' requests for more officers and all agreed more police were needed.

The only areas of mild disagreement were regarding how manpower should be used, including how much the department should supplement its narcotics and traffic safety efforts and whether there should again by a School Resource Officer at either the middle or high schools.

On Tuesday night, Councilmember Bob Sabosik said he believes a School Resource Officer will be hired and that the chief will decide if that officer works at the high school full-time or also spends part of the time at the middle school. Sabosik said the school district may help pay for the cost of at least one School Resource Officer, but that arrangement has not been finalized.

Williams said in March that stationing an officer at the high school means that officer handles all matters that come up, including thefts, assaults, fights and other incidents, and the department doesn't have to keep pulling other officers off the road to respond to the school and write reports.

In other business, council members also mentioned a few upcoming events, including the Borough's Earth Day from noon to 4 at Riverfront Park on Saturday; the Jazz and Wine Festival at Riverfront Park on May 18 and Summerfest, sponsored by the Point Borough Chamber of Commerce at Community Park on June 1, with a raindate of June 2.