Fair Lawn Police Officer Resigns
Officer Juan Rodriguez will resign his position with the Fair Lawn Police Department effective June 29 and join the Paterson Police Department.
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Fair Lawn police officer Juan Rodriguez, who was sworn in to the department this past November, has resigned, effective June 29, to accept a position with the Paterson Police Department.
Rodriguez, an Afghanistan war veteran, had worked as a patrolman in Paterson for four years before being laid off by the department in 2011, and taking a job in Fair Lawn. When he was recently offered his old job back, the Paterson native and longtime resident decided to return to the department.
While Rodriguez could not be reached for comment, borough manager Tom Metzler said his decision to leave Fair Lawn was not made lightly.
"Per his conversations with me yesterday, it was not an easy decision for him," Metzler said Friday. "But Paterson offers lifetime healthcare benefits after they retire and Fair Lawn does not. I think the decision was an economic one."
Metzler said he did not believe Rodriguez's departure was related to internal strife within the department.
"He was nothing but grateful," Metzler said. "He said it was a very, very difficult decision for him, that he felt very well accepted in Fair Lawn and very well entrenched, enjoyed working in the community, was grateful for the opportunity to work here, but he just felt that this was what was best for him and his family."
With the resignation of Rodriguez, the already understaffed department is back down to 54 officers and will immediately begin looking for a replacement.
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Bruce Knuckle
8:21 am on Saturday, June 23, 2012
Metzler thinks it was an economical decision, but believes it wasn't because of all the strife in the department. Hey Mr. Manager, why didn't you ask him instead of guessing and believing? Once again, the leadership fails to get behind the real reason. Then again, I wouldn't expect Mr. Borough Manager to go against his former "cargate" buddy. Its time to get rid of the chief that hides all day an does nothing.
FairlAWNisFINISHED
9:35 am on Saturday, June 23, 2012
Mr. Knuckle, fyi it's both economical and what the papers read probably added to his decision. Fair Lawn Police Officers are at the bottom of total payscale and compensation package.
Jose Espinal
12:58 pm on Saturday, June 23, 2012
I would agree, who would stay in a town that doesn't provide health benefits for those who sacrificed their lives on every call they go on.
Johnny Rivera
10:37 am on Sunday, June 24, 2012
"But Paterson offers lifetime healthcare benefits after they retire and Fair Lawn does not. I think the decision was an economic one." Metzler stated.
Thats it in a nutshell, economics 101, and the Fair Lawn taxpayer loses on the cheap once again, like the dozens of other officers who have left for greener pastures!
mushroom
8:35 am on Saturday, June 23, 2012
Hey Knuckle, "While Rodriguez could not be reached for comment"
Double Dipped Twinkie
9:13 am on Saturday, June 23, 2012
Mushroom yoy dope! Thats regarding this article
FairlAWNisFINISHED
9:23 am on Saturday, June 23, 2012
How do you like that, its more economical for a person to be a police officer in Paterson than Fair Lawn. Seems to me not only is it difficult to be a police officer these days, but Fair Lawn Police Officer's are sacrificing even more economically, as per Mr. Metzler's statement. The Borough of Fair Lawn should be embarrassed!
Bruce Knuckle
9:28 am on Saturday, June 23, 2012
Mushroom....great comprehension skills.
FairlAWNisFINISHED
9:30 am on Saturday, June 23, 2012
I just did some research, Fair Lawn compensates their police officer's LESS than 90% of the surrounding towns, they are highly understaffed, the crime rate is higher than almost most of the surrounding towns, and the retirement package is within the 5% bottom of the charts when you factor not covering an officer after retirement! Officer Rodriguez had no choice! Get out before he drowns! No wonder there are significant problems in Fair Lawn, does anyone think by cheating employees this benefits anyone?
FairlAWNisFINISHED
9:43 am on Saturday, June 23, 2012
ZAK, has the PBA been contacted regarding this for any further insight?
Zak Koeske
11:55 am on Monday, June 25, 2012
@FairLawnisFinished - I spoke to the PBA on Friday, off the record, but essentially confirming the dilemma over the health care information that I reported. I've reached out for an official statement and am awaiting a response.
Fairlawn
11:17 am on Saturday, June 23, 2012
Does anyone what is the salary for the fairlawn police department?
Jose Espinal
1:03 pm on Saturday, June 23, 2012
Ir donde el dinero es el distrito de fair lawn podría cuidar menos sobre usted y su familia, beneficios para la salud son muy importantes!
Zak Koeske
11:56 am on Monday, June 25, 2012
@Fairlawn - It depends how many years you've been working, when you started, your rank, etc.
Jose Espinal
12:56 pm on Saturday, June 23, 2012
This is even more evidence how Fair Lawn is unfair to its borough employees, When a city like Paterson with hundreds of police employees can offer a better overall compensation package than a rich community like Fair Lawn.
Buena suerte en sus proyectos futuros Officer Rodriguez!
MissS
1:24 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
"a rich community"? We have no money, remember? That's why we had to lay off police in the first place and force people to take furlough days. We are lucky that with all the problems in town that our police still care about fair lawn and are still doing their best to protect us.
joe rizzo
4:41 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Yes wealthy community compared to Paterson, also, the reason for the layoffs were personal, and had nothing to do with economics.
Jose Espinal
1:10 pm on Saturday, June 23, 2012
Juan, beneficios para la salud son muy importantes, es una lástima que no entiende de fair lawn, cuán importante es la familia y el cuidado de la familia, Paterson NJ cuida de sus policías Bienvenidos nuevamente!
Bender
9:54 pm on Saturday, June 23, 2012
?
Douglas Bradley Haber
10:49 pm on Saturday, June 23, 2012
It's a shame that Fair Lawn lost you. Good luck "Jarod".
Johnny Rivera
10:34 am on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Manager Metzler hit the nail on the head, Paterson has a better package to offer police officers than Fair Lawn, how dispicable that is. Yet nothing is ever done. I guess people in charge are not smart enough to figure out the real underlying problems that is plain to see in the police department. Does anyone really realize how many officers have left Fair Lawn for the county and other police departments? It's a disgusting trend, and nobody is to blame but the boro council for not having similar contracts as the surrouding towns, and not making sure problems are solved. Taxpayers lose when you have a penny wise mindset and think you are getting something for less, guess what, you are getting less for something when it's less!
All at the expense of higher crime and higher taxes for you, the local taxpayer!
FL-Rez
10:54 am on Sunday, June 24, 2012
If we hire a person to become an officer and that officer leaves to go to another police department, is that a big waist of money [economics 101]?
Johnny Rivera
11:03 am on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Fl-rez, yes it is, and this wouldn't happen if the overall compensation package was equivalent, officers usually stay unless they move out of the area.
Dorothy Kilgallen
11:04 am on Sunday, June 24, 2012
I guess suing the town is the new retirement package.
Johnny Rivera
11:10 am on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Hmm, maybe the next lawsuit is over no retirement benefits, I redact my last post, you may be on to something!
Bruce Knuckle
12:22 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Lawsuits in general are out of control, however the PD is in big trouble and the crap pack just lets it roll on.Whats the expense to replace this officer? .... BTW, anyone see Captain sideshow lately?
MissS
1:28 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Knuckle, I think these arguments and name calling is getting a little childish. The "crap pack" has screwed up, but they will be leaving soon. Next year is 30yrs for the head honcho.
Bruce Knuckle
5:06 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
MissS-The crap pack I am referring to is the clown act council. Sorry you were confused, although, it is understandable. The town is riddled with "crap packers"
Dorothy Kilgallen
3:58 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
do tell bruce. what do you hear? and what ever became of the discrimination claim by Taylor? Didn't he drop that because it wasn't true? or do we not want to talk about that brucie boy?
Bruce Knuckle
5:13 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
@Dorothy, I think I made a statement saying lawsuits are out of control in general. I don't understand the hostility of your post.
joe rizzo
4:43 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Good Luck to Officer Rodriguez, family first!
IsmellaRatt
3:59 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Dorothy you seem to have a vested interest and unyeilding access to information......
HMMMMMMM.....
Stuart Pace
4:51 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
If any of you would come out from hiding it would be a frickin miracle.
Bruce Knuckle
11:13 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Stu, it would be a miracle if you ever picked a winner. Who appointed you Captain sideshows personal mouthpiece. ...Hey Zak, want me to write the story for you too? A sudden disappearance of one of the department heads might be a story.
Gabriel Francis
4:53 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
PBA local 67 gave up medical benefits after retirement during contract negotiations back in the 80s. Great decision!
Tom Tom, the piper's son
12:16 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Has anyone checked with Paterson lately. Because they no longer have lifetime benefits. In fact, a detective friend of mine who has been with the department for 18 years was just notified that his "lifetime heath benefit" has been yanked. Methinks Officer Rodriguez got the fuzzy end of the lollipop on this decision.