Veteran officers may get title

HOWELL — The Township Council’s plan to create the ceremonial position of corporal within the police department does not sit well with the chief.

An ordinance introduced at the council’s Sept. 18 meeting allows for any township police officer who has served on the township force for 20 years to automatically be awarded the title of corporal.

According to language contained in the ordinance, the purely ceremonial title is expected to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness and esprit de corps of the members of the department.

Township Manager Jacqueline Ascione told the News Transcript the awarding of the title was worked out between her and Policeman’s Benevolent Association President Kevin Stout in the course of recent contract negotiations for the rank and file officers.

Police Chief Ronald Carter said he was not a party to the discussions between Stout and Ascione. He said he was notified after they had reached an agreement.

Carter told the News Transcript the decision is a policy being determined by the governing body, "and that’s their call."

However, the chief said, he does not approve of the measure because "ceremonial or whatever, it conveys, in the eyes of the public, a promotion."

"You earn promotions by merit and hard work and not by negotiating deals with the township manager," he said.

Carter went on to say that as a citizen, his concern is while the title may not cost taxpayers anything now, "who knows how it will play out in the future?"

Ascione said the awarding of the title is nothing more than another way to say "job well-done" as there will be no monetary compensation.

"It costs the town nothing, but is a nice way to acknowledge a major achievement," she said.