Some Ramapo Town Board members have delayed a decision on promoting one of three lieutenants to captain.
Even though Police Chief Peter Brower made his recommendation, several board members have balked.
The major reason is some Orthodox Jewish community leaders are lobbying for a lieutenant different from Brower’s recommendation. Of course, the question is why should the community’s view count? The answer is votes at the ballot box.
The candidates for captain are Detective Lt. Brad Weidel, Lt. Mark Emma, and David Holmes.
Brower recommended Weidel — and it’s rare that the Town Board would overrule its police chief, though the board hired an Orthodox Jewish woman as an officer who didn’t have the chief’s blessing. That decision ended with the town paying the officer nearly a half-million dollars to settle a lawsuit and to quit.
Holmes is the favorite of some Orthodox Jewish community leaders, who have been lobbying several of the Town Board members and Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence.
Weidel oversees the Detective Bureau and major investigative cases, while Holmes and Emma oversee patrol squads and other department units. Emma, the newest appointed lieutenant, also has run the accident reconstruction team.
All three are candidates to succeed Capt. James Quinn, who retired close to 40 years and was a favorite of the Orthodox Jewish community.
The decision will be made by the Police Commission, whose members comprise St. Lawrence and the four Town Board members — Deputy Supervisor Francis Hunter and Councilmen Patrick Withers, Yitzchok Ullman, and Daniel Friedman.
Withers, a retired police officer, is likely to side with Brower, while Hunter has a long history of supporting the recommendations of the police chief. Friedman and Ullman are the newest members. Along with St. Lawrence, their base of support comes from the community.
Quinn left the department under the town’s enhanced early retirement plan. His position was not scheduled to be filled.
But his departure placed most of the regulated administrative work for the captain on Thomas Cokeley, the second ranking officer under Brower. The department also is without an administrative lieutenant, as a result of the early retirement plan and St. Lawrence’s desire to cut down on the number of ranking officers to save money. He estimated the retirements would save $1 million this year and $2 million in 2011.
The promotion to captain could be discussed at the Police Commission’s scheduled for September or possibly at a Town Board meeting during July or August.
6 Comments
St. Lawrence disgusts me. He cuts back on police personnel to save money and then goes off and spends $25 million on a ball park that nobody wants!!!
Of course St. Lawrence, Friedman and Ullman will do whatever the Hassids want them to do. It’s the only way they can hold onto their jobs!!!!!!!!!
Ramapo Resident…...
“Of course St. Lawrence, Friedman and Ullman will do whatever the Hassids want them to do. It’s the only way they can hold onto their jobs!!!!!!!!!”.....
YOur hatred as usually is clearly shown…(oh I bet you, “your response will be…”Im jewish also”)
The fact is every board member represents their”constitutes” The town weather you like it has approx 40-45% orthodox thus Friedman and Ullman represent. They will do what the hasids tell them as thats who they represent. Hunter will do what the Blacks ask her and Withers as an ex cop will always do what the cop’s want. Thats the makeup o the board so stop blaming all your indigestion on the jews….
Dear Steve Leiberman
“the question is why should the community’s view count”????????? Excuse me Steve…Arent police offers spoose to be there for THE COMMUNITY. Its not a military or a dictatorship. Police are suppose to be there as they say “TO protect & Serve” COMMUNITY POLICING is when the Police work with the community. History shows that when you had cops in Harlem that had no ties with the community crime rates where very high! its important that Police work with the community. If any group or communiity has an issue with a cop dont you think that the commuinties requests should be considered, if qualifies. Or do you think its better to ram someone the Chief wants for his own agenda. Lets not forget the Chief is a politicin as well. maybe not an elected one but a polotician as well.
Oh so this is just your assumption not facts. Your just assuming thats what is happening…...oh well goes for accurate reporting….lol
re “Steve hates orthodox,” 1-how is reporting the facts become hatred. You wrote nothing that challenges the gist here.
2-Are you saying the community should decide promotions and force its will on the town board because they feel one officer will cater to its needs? The chief is a professional, knows his department and gets to decide his choice. What do you know that would make an officer a good captain and administrator?
Here’s another example of freedom of speech not tolerated and the the community being catered to. The community has issues – moral, religious and social, of women in bikinis, so ads are removed from city buses in NYC that go through the community. Is that fair, the community’s feelings should be more important that other people
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/01/georgi-vodka-ad-pulled-fr_n_630722.html