Fair Lawn Police Chief Announces Retirement
Chief Erik Rose, a 30-year veteran of the Fair Lawn Police Department, announced his retirement Friday.
Fair Lawn Police Chief Erik Rose, a 30-year veteran of the force, announced his retirement from the department Friday.
Rose's last day on the job is April 1, but his retirement won't officially take effect until Dec. 31, manager Tom Metzler said. He'll be utilizing his accumulated time to take off from April until his retirement date, Metzler said.
Rose, who joined the force in 1983, moved up the ranks and eventually became the department's acting chief beginning in October 2003 after former Chief Rod Marshall retired. He was officially sworn in as Fair Lawn's sixth police chief in May 2004.
Metzler wished Rose well and commended him for his lengthy service to the department.
“He has served the borough of Fair Lawn honorably for 30 years," said Metzler, who worked under Rose as a dispatcher, before becoming Rose's boss later in his career. "Anyone that puts 30 years in the same place, I think that in itself is a commendable thing."
Rose's retirement comes eight days after that of his second-in-command, Capt. Joseph Cook. Since 2007, both Rose and Cook have been named as defendants in multiple lawsuits and grievances filed by Fair Lawn police officers alleging harassment, disparate treatment and retaliatory tactics.
In January 2012, 92 percent of the Fair Lawn Policemen's Benevolent Association took a "no confidence" vote in the leadership of the department under Rose and Cook.
Despite the internal strife within the department, Metzler said Rose's decision to retire was his own and that he left in good standing.
"When you’re in a management position there’s always going to be controversy," Metzler said. "When there’s not, you’re probably not doing your job."
Metzler declined to comment on who might succeed Rose as chief, although with he and Cook now gone, Capt. Glen Cauwels becomes the highest ranking officer in the department.
Rose was unavailable for comment.
Oh No
10:21 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013
Good luck Chief. Now it's time to put someone in there with good leadership quality and the ability to put some dicipline back into the department. To me that would be Capt Glen Cauwels
Michael Agosta
10:21 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013
I'm curious to see if anyone from the hierarchy of the BCPD is being considered for this position.
Noelle Smyth
10:21 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013
Looks like Cosgrove and company are cleaning house! Its about time.
Phil Jonas
4:26 pm on Saturday, March 9, 2013
is this a republican candidate for council?
why didn't I think of that
5:39 am on Saturday, March 9, 2013
Capt. Cauwels is the best choice
Ezra P.
4:26 pm on Saturday, March 9, 2013
Given that his retirement will not be until the last day will not be until the last day of the year - can a new person be put in place until then?
Zak Koeske
4:27 pm on Saturday, March 9, 2013
@Ezra - There will be an acting chief until the official retirement date
Inigo de Loyola
4:26 pm on Saturday, March 9, 2013
I don't know Erik but I think it's disgraceful that he gets to cash in 9 months of accumulated sick and vacation time.
Norwood had this same problem a few years ago with Chief D'Ercole. And to make matters worse, D'Ercole kept the ledger of his own used sick and vacation time.
The rest of us corporate clowns have to abide by an annual "use it or lose it" policy each year. The same should be true for civil service employees.
Just Facts
4:26 pm on Saturday, March 9, 2013
Captain Kneer has the most experience and has been at the department for 40 years - he is a shoe in!
Just Facts
4:26 pm on Saturday, March 9, 2013
Good time to combine departments - maybe with the county police - Fair Lawn county police - get Glen Rock, Saddle Brook, Elmwood Park, Hawthorne -make them 1 police department. One Chief....One Court....One records room - too much duplication in Bergen County. Kind of silly to have 70 + police chiefs all on power trips making big salaries, raising taxes. Then they can surely get rid of all the wasted fire equipment, ambulances etc... Big duplication and waste...
Gordie Howe
4:26 pm on Saturday, March 9, 2013
Wow! Now that's a Hatrik to be proud of! A Captain, Manager and Chief.
Looks like the Penalty Box has been cleared.
Kissle
4:26 pm on Saturday, March 9, 2013
The years of political abuse within are gonna take years to fix. The evidence seems very clear what happened at PD.
John C
5:44 pm on Saturday, March 9, 2013
WOW! something stinks and I think its the deal that has been made to save these three clowns. Hey town fathers what is this gonna cost the taxpayers. You should have let them been found guilty of their harassment. Oh wait that would have cost us as well. I think its time the council people were held accountable for being irresponsible with our money. I'm tired of it. I wonder if we can OPRA request the deals that were made or if it will be same old politics of wait until they are all gone then we will learn what this cost us.
Hans Gruber
7:04 pm on Saturday, March 9, 2013
Someone should opra those settlements. I mean, one guy sued to get promoted. Now everyone will be doing it. And how many lawsuits will be coming when the new captain gets his wings?
why didn't I think of that
7:04 pm on Saturday, March 9, 2013
Hawthorne is in Passaic different prosecutor means different rules
Kegarator Ken
2:21 pm on Sunday, March 10, 2013
Does "Captain" Kneer ever take his uniform off??