Crime & Safety

West Caldwell to Promote Eight Officers

Ceremony planned for Tuesday, Oct. 18 at James Caldwell High School.

West Caldwell will promote eight police officers Tuesday at a special council meeting place and time.

The West Caldwell Council meeting has been moved to the Center for the Performing Arts in West Caldwell to accommodate what is expected to be a large attendance. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m.

West Caldwell Police Lt. Gerard Paris will be promoted to captain. Three sergeants, John Kopf, Thomas Bryant and William Coughlin, will be promoted to lieutenant. And Cpl. Shaun O’Dowd, Det. Declan Beere, Det. Dennis Capriglione and Ptl. Paul Vanikiotis will be promoted to sergeant.

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Salaries for sergeants and lieutenants are set by the current collective bargaining agreement between the PBA and the township. The salary range for lieutenant is between $124,975 and $128,272. The salary range for sergeant is between $110,334 and $113,616. 

These salaries do not include longevity pay, Bramhall explained.

Find out what's happening in Caldwellswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The captain’s salary will be set by ordinance by the township’s governing body.

The West Caldwell Police Department is comprised of 23 sworn officers. Following the promotions in mid-October, the make-up of the department will be one chief, one captain, four lieutenants, five sergeants and 12 patrol officers.

The police chief is able to assign patrol officers to be detectives or patrol corporals.

“Promotions are based on a policy set forth by a local ordinance, which can include a written exam, oral interview, and a mixture of seniority, college, military and an evaluation by the chief,” explained Bramhall. 

The final step in all promotions is an interview with the mayor and council. Candidates may apply to waive all or a portion of the exam process and skip to the final interview stage.


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