Westwood Council to Consider Change to Police Promotions

Westwood officials are continuing to discuss possible changes to the promotion requirements in the borough's Police Department.

Officers must hold a degree in order to be promoted. Councilman Robert Miller, the chair of the police committee, previously said the borough's labor attorney had reported the requirement was "noncompliant" with state law.

Miller reported Tuesday that the labor attorney had come for a closed session council meeting to give his opinion to the council, and that officials would discuss the policy again at their next meeting.

"Our objective remains the same," Miller said.

Miller and other members of the police committee have said they support a change for reasons besides the apparent noncompliance of the rule. Currently, an officer with many years of experience and accolades, but no degree, would have to be passed over for another officer with comparatively little experience.

Borough police officers have submitted a letter asking for the change to the police committee and both Police Chief Frank Regino and Capt. Frank Durante said they supported the change during the previous council meeting.

Not all of the council members have agreed that a change is necessary, touting the value of education and noting that the degree requirement was added to address morale issues more than 10 years ago. The council voted 3-2 last December against removing the degree requirement.

Miller said he believed the discussions were "a process which allows for the best possible solution."

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