Residents and members of the PBA are crying foul over the recent selection of a candidate for police chief selected by town lawmakers who they are calling less qualified.
According to a statement released by PBA officials and an organized private group, Harrison Mayor Fife and some members of the City Council wants to bypass the top ranking and most qualified candidate to become the next Chief of Police.
In a statement released by Harrison's Mayor Fife, the interview process is still underway by himself and the selection committee. "We are conducting a full and thorough interview process for the best overall candidate who will serve and protect the residents of Harrison," Mayor Fife said.
According to the Mayor, the committee will choose the best candidate of the three highest scorers on the Civil Service test and will make a selection prior to March 1st and the candidate will be sworn in at the March 6th Council Meeting. The mayor said any information of a preselected csndidate released prior to this is hearsay and rumors.
According to the group, on March 1, 2018, Harrison Police Chief Derek Kearns will officially retire, but months before, an extensive standardized test was carried out by the NJ Civil Service Commission to determine the best-qualified candidate to become the next Chief of Police in our town.
Members of the town council are now apparently ignoring the Civil Service Commission Experts’ recommendations as they intend to appoint the third candidate from the eligible list instead of the candidate who scored the highest the PBA said.
In a statement released by the PBA, they contend that not only is this unfair, but the practice may not be the best for the residents and the Harrison Police Department. "We find no logical explanation for the City Council's plan and neither should residents," PBA officials said.
A group of residents supporting the PBA said some council members have also suggested hiring a police director to further politicize the process and their own interest rather than doing what's best for keeping residents safe.
Both groups have planned a demonstration on February 27th at 3:30 p.m. at 323 Harrison Avenue -to again- remind city officials that the top scoring and most qualified candidate be appointed the next Chief of Police.
PBA officials say Harrison has the legal right to choose any one of the top three candidates, but choosing the third candidate with the worst score on the list is not what's best for the town.