Deputy chief proposal gets BOS, FinCom support

Police Chief Ken Berkowitz picked up some key supporters last week with a 5-0 vote by selectmen and a 6-1 vote by the Finance Committee backing his town meeting article to remove the vacant position of deputy police chief from civil service.

Pending town meeting approval, Chief Berkowitz plans to reestablish the position later this year by choosing from among his three lieutenants: Lt. Helena Findlen, Lt. Patty Sherrill, and Lt. Tom Keleher Jr. Berkowitz told the Citizen that it will be a difficult decision as all three are very qualified candidates. He noted, for instance, that all three have attended the FBI Training School, and all have extensive educational and service experience.

Berkowitz said he has been thinking about establishing a deputy police chief for the last seven years but feels that “right now is the right time.”

“We have certainly grown as a department,” he said, “and with the complexities of investigations and state mandates, now is the right time.”

Ten other police departments around Canton now have deputy chiefs, and Berkowitz noted that the position of deputy fire chief has been important to the leadership of the Canton Fire Department.

Berkowitz said there are two direct benefits to the department: It establishes a direct supervisor who would be in charge when he is away, and it creates future growth opportunities for police officers.

The new position would come at a price, however.

Berkowitz said the first year of the plan (FY12, which begins July 1, 2011) would cost the department another $5,000 as one of the sergeants would be promoted to fill the vacant lieutenant’s position. Berkowitz said he would like to make the appointment later this year.

The second year (FY13) would cost an additional $1,750 for the lieutenant’s position and $1,250 for a sergeant’s position, and Berkowitz expects that in the third year (FY14), the full impact would be an additional $47,000 if selectmen decide to appoint a new patrol officer.

The chief said the intent of the article is to take the position out of selective service to give him more management flexibility, especially as it relates to hiring decisions.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Mar 10 2011. Filed under News, Police & Fire, Town Government. Both comments and pings are currently closed.