Is Plainfield Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs jumping the gun?
Maybe we can call it the 'Maundy Thursday Massacre'.
In a breaking news story posted on both the Courier and Ledger websites, Robinson-Briggs is cited as appointing Public Safety Director Martin Hellwig as 'acting police director'.
Huh?!
The ordinance establishing the position was passed by the City Council on Wednesday evening.
Last I knew, ordinances don't become law for 20 days after their passage.
Did we miss a turn in the road?
COURIER
City names new acting civilian police director
By BRANDON LAUSCH
STAFF WRITER
A day after abolishing the title of police chief in favor of creating the post of civilian police director, city leaders announced Thursday that Public Safety Director Martin Hellwig will fill the new role in an acting capacity.
In an afternoon statement released by the city's public information office, Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs said the focus of her administration "is to forge ahead and impact as quickly as possible on the operating efficiency of the Police Division.''
To that end, the mayor said "we intend to immediately appoint'' Hellwig, who started his law enforcement career four decades ago and came to Plainfield in January 2006. Citing his extensive police and administrative background, Robinson-Briggs said "this will enable him to hit the ground running with very little or no disruption to our law enforcement team.''
Hellwig, the architect of a sweeping reorganization of the Police Division that includes the elimination of the chief's position, admitted in a telephone interview Thursday that the additional responsibility will be "extremely demanding.'' As public safety director, Hellwig oversees the city's Fire Division and police force, as well as the local Office of Emergency Management.
"The object here is management,'' Hellwig said of his new position. "It's all about management, and I do not intend to become a police officer again. This is all about empowering my captains.''
The 60-year-old Hellwig -- who spent more than 25 years with the Verona Police Department and served in various capacities in Essex County law enforcement and administration -- wants to expand the responsibilities of the city's five captains and create a sixth bureau to focus on information technology issues. He said he also hopes to continue promoting a community-oriented Police Division that is highly visible and welcoming.
Hellwig's reorganization, which the City Council approved in two votes Wednesday night, also allows for a significant expansion of Plainfield's 151-member Police Division. Under the adopted ordinances, the police force could expand to include up to eight captains, 24 lieutenants, 50 sergeants and 250 patrolman.
In his new role, Hellwig will absorb current police Chief Edward Santiago's administrative duties while the chief's police-related functions will be transferred to the captains because a civilian manager does not hold police powers.
Santiago -- who will lose his position April 11 -- said Wednesday he will accept a demotion to captain if his planned court injunction challenging the reorganization fails.
Hellwig, who earns $90,000 a year as public safety director and is negotiating for a raise, said he took the added role because "I believe in what we're doing here.''
Hellwig, who is drafting a 100-day plan for the Police Division, said he is unaware of any immediate intentions to search for a permanent replacement. He can hold the title of acting police director for a year, according to the new laws.
http://www.c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080320/FRONT01/80320022
LEDGER
Plainfield names new civilian police director
by The Star-Ledger Continuous News Desk
Thursday March 20, 2008, 8:52 PM
Less than 24 hours after the Plainfield council abolished the position of police chief and created a civilian police director, the mayor named the city's current public safety director to the new job on an acting basis.
Martin Hellwig, a 60-year-old veteran of several Essex County law enforcement agencies, has for nearly a year battled the current police chief, Edward Santiago, over the authority to reorganize the police department.
"The focus of the administration is to forge ahead and impact as quickly as possible on the operating efficiency of the police division," said Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs in a statement, touting Hellwig's experience in law enforcement and administration. "This will enable him to hit the ground running with very little, or no disruption to our law enforcement team."
Hellwig is expected to release a "100 day plan" discussing his vision for the department within the next few weeks.
The police chief's job will formally end April 11. Santiago told the council Wednesday he would seek an injunction in Superior Court to delay the measure while he files an appeal. If his court action fails, Santiago has said he will continue to serve the department in the rank of captain.
Prior to the council vote Wednesday, several residents denounced the measure as a political tactic by Briggs' administration to broaden their powers and target Santiago, with whom she has long had a contentious relationship.
The administration defended the move, saying the civilian police director will improve efficiency and accountability among the police.
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/03/plainfield_names_new_civilian.html
Read the full stories in Friday's Courier and Ledger.
--Dan Damon
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