Heights PBA Members Protest Proposed Police Promotions Procedure

A new set of procedures for granting promotions within the Hasbrouck Heights Police Department was put on hold Tuesday night when a group of PBA members came forward stating that the proposed rules were unfair and that an open discussion was needed.

Armed with an attorney, members of Hasbrouck Heights PBA Local 102 confronted the mayor and council Tuesday night during the public hearing on the proposed ordinance.

The group's attorney D. John McAusland said the members wanted to "establish an open and fair process" about the procedures which he said the members had only learned about from a legal advertisement printed in The Observer newspaper two weeks prior.

Mayor Rose Heck said the procedures were designed to create a fair process for the police department and that it was being done in their best interest. She said the police committee worked for months with a special counsel highly knowledgable in such procedures to develop the process.

Several members of the police department came forward with their concerns about the procedures, the majority of them calling it "unfair." They also questioned sick time history and community service which are listed in the ordinance among items that would be part of their review towards a promotion.

Patrolman Paul Basset, vice president of the PBA, told the mayor the majority of the police department opposed the ordinance which he said was "flawed."  He stressed that there had been no word of the proposed procedure and that it was only brought to their attention by way of the legal advertisement.

Lt. Jim Miller, who is in his 25th year with the department, said the procedures would shut him out of advancing in the detective bureau based on the rules in the ordinance. Sgt. Charles Lesho told the mayor the ordinance gives  undo preference to some over others for promotions which he said was not fair.

Heck said she believes promotions should not be granted just based on seniority and is looking to put in a "well rounded approach."

"I was very serious in the way we put this together with respect for each officer," the mayor said.

The discussion led the mayor to recommend that the public hearing be continued to the next meeting, March 26, to allow for a meeting with  PBA representatives and their attorney along with the police committee and the counselor who was consulted on the procedure process.

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