[dropcap]T[/dropcap]own officials are expected to make three promotions in the police ranks including promoting Lt. Michael Olsey to chief of the department.
Lt. Edward Detlefs is also expected to be promoted to police captain. And Sgt. John Vasta will be promoted to lieutenant to fill one of the positions left by Olsey and Detlefs.
Mayor Ron Belmont, a Republican, confirmed on Wednesday that the town board would appoint and formally swear in all three officers during a town board meeting on Thursday, Dec. 1, after press time.
Olsey has been the acting chief of the Police Department since former chief Anthony Marraccini was suspended in September amid an internal investigation and a federal probe. Marraccini resigned on Oct. 6 while he was still suspended with pay. Olsey was one of three members of the department who interviewed with the town board for the chief position.
Having served on the town’s police force for 20 years, Olsey told the Review he would look to continue the programs the department is currently utilizing, but would also work to improve community outreach using a variety of approaches including social media.
Olsey may have already impacted the organization of the department. Last month, Councilman Steve Malfitano, a Republican, told the Review that the town board would ask for input from the new chief in considering whether to reinstate the police captain position, which had been vacant since 2010, when then-Capt. Marraccini was promoted to chief. Olsey confirmed that the board asked for his input, and that he recommended reviving that position. “I think it’s good for the structure of the department to have a captain,” he said.
The town recently appropriated for a $5,000 pay increase for the police chief in 2017 and $164,500 for a police captain. According to the 2017 preliminary budget, the chief will receive a salary of $190,000, up from $185,000. Marraccini, as chief had also collected a yearly stipend of $12,000 since 2014 to keep the captain’s position unstaffed.
In addition, the 2017 preliminary budget has allotted for four lieutenants, only three of which will be staffed following Thursday’s promotions. Therefore, the town board will have room in the budget to appoint one more lieutenant if it chooses to do so.
Detlefs’ promotion to captain will be his second promotion within the year, as he climbed from sergeant to lieutenant on April 8.
Olsey and Detlefs were also promoted in tandem in January 2011, when Olsey became a lieutenant and Detlefs became a sergeant.
All three promotions will be effective as of Dec. 1, after press time.
John Pappalardo, an attorney representing Marraccini, could not be reached for comment, as of press time.
