Crime & Safety
New Cop Hires Violate Code, Police Chief Admits
The two new hires would boost the police force in town to 32, and may violate the village's nepotism policy, report says.
An offer of employment from the police department to two Ridgewood residents violated village code, NorthJersey.com reported.
According to the report, Police Chief John Ward was at a Village Council meeting this week to discuss the offers of hire he made to two residents who are related to current and former Ridgewood officers on Jan. 17.
The hires would boost the number of officers in town to 32, two more than currently allowed, the report said.
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The chief may have also violated the village's nepotism policy, which NorthJersey.com reported requires the council to approve hires who are related to employees.
At the meeting, Ward said he was unaware of the 30-officer cap, and petitioned the council to create a retroactive amendment to the code that would allow for 32 officers instead, the report said.
Find out what's happening in Ridgewood-Glen Rockwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
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