Officer Who Sued Retired Captain May Succeed Him
Lt. Bob Kneer, a 39-year Fair Lawn police veteran, is the only officer currently eligible to fill the department's vacancy left by last week's retirement of Capt. Joseph Cook.
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A Fair Lawn police officer who filed suit against his superiors in 2011, alleging they had created a hostile work environment and repeatedly denied him promotion, may finally receive the bump in rank he's sought for the past three years.
Lt. Bob Kneer, 60, the longest serving officer in the department, is the only member of the force currently qualified to succeed Capt. Joseph Cook, who retired last week.
Borough manager Tom Metzler, who is responsible for making departmental promotions, declined comment on his choice for captain, but confirmed that Kneer was the only officer on the certified civil service captain's list.
Kneer, a United States Marine veteran, joined the force in 1973, and has commanded the department's Honor Guard ever since. He rose through the department's ranks bouncing between the patrol division and the detective bureau until 2003, when he became a lieutenant in the patrol division, the position he currently holds.
Over the course of his nearly four-decade-long career, Kneer has received multiple longevity awards and twice been named "Policeman of the Year."
But the Vietnam-era veteran's road to captain has been an arduous one.
A lawsuit Kneer filed in August 2011 attests to a rocky relationship with both Chief Erik Rose and Cook, the man he may soon replace.
In the suit, which names Rose and Cook as defendants, Kneer alleges he was repeatedly tormented by the chief and captain because of his age, and passed over in favor of officers more than 15 years his junior for the positions of captain, accreditation lieutenant and detective lieutenant.
Kneer claims that, despite expressing his interest in a promotion to captain in 2010, he had to fight just to receive a customary in-person interview with the chief and borough manager. He was never interviewed for the position of accreditation lieutenant, his suit alleges.
According to the suit, Kneer's detractors even amended the department's organizational chart in 2010, deliberately eliminating what had been a third captain position for which he was the top officer eligible.
The suit alleges that the harassment from Cook became so severe that during a meeting with Rose to discuss it, Kneer began shaking and fainted.
"Get Captain Cook off my back," the suit alleges Kneer said upon coming to. "Enough is enough. I can't take it."
Cook has repeatedly declined to discuss the lawsuit's allegations.
Kneer has also declined to discuss his pending suit against the borough and the department's top brass, but appeared in good spirits on the day Cook announced his retirement last week.
He said he was "without a doubt" interested in moving up the ranks to captain.
Fair Lawn Policemen's Benevolent Association president Michael O'Brien said he would welcome Kneer's promotion.
"Lt. Kneer has been an integral part of the police department for 40 years," O'Brien said. "He's a passionate and caring leader for both the officers and the community. He's shown that through his involvement with various programs and the way he conducts business with the community."
If Kneer is promoted to captain, the move would open up spots for a new lieutenant and a new sergeant within the department.
Sgt. James Corcoran and Detective Timothy O'Shaughnessy are the top-ranking officers on the civil service lists for lieutenant and sergeant, respectively.
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John Amish
10:34 am on Monday, March 4, 2013
More waste! Fair Lawn tax payers are screwed again, and again and again. Why is that when we "promote" Kneer, we need to promote two more behind him? If kneer doesn't retire this month, they should take his case to the jury.
A few bad apples all get paid while regular folks like us are being ROBBED by those who swore an oath to "Protect and Serve".
Mr Metzler, do the right thing, hire from OUTSIDE the department.
Claude B
1:41 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
I don't know about this, I think Lt Bastinck would make a better more sound pick!
why didn't I think of that
3:07 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
That is not how civil service works Amish
When did "Civil Service" become UNcivil?
5:42 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
maybe we should end the department, send them all home and cut the county a check instead. We get rid of the idiots and liabilities at the same time. It would be unfortunate that we loose a few good officers, but Messina, Cook, Kneer, Rose and a few others are to blame.
Hans Gruber
5:42 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
tormented because of his age? aint he like 3 years older than the chief?
Zak Koeske
5:44 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
@Hans Gruber - I don't know the exact ages of Cook or Rose, but according to Kneer's suit, he is "older than Chief Rose and Captain Cook by at least ten to fifteen years."
fred
9:39 am on Sunday, March 10, 2013
I hope that when you reach 60 you will be fired because of your age. Then you will know what it is like to be discriminated against.
Go Figure
5:42 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
Mr. Amish, I don't think you read the article correctly. Mr. Kneer isn't being sued, nor is he going before any jury. The way I read this article he settled without going to trial which could have resulted in us paying a large settlement for harassment. If you look at settlements like this they can be in the millions. When a ranking officer leaves people move up to fill those ranks. To leave them empty or unfilled would be most unwise in any business.
Fair Lawn Mom
9:56 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
I for one am sick and tired about reading how "Civil Servants" "abuse" each other and we get to pay. I understand the risk, but its time we stood up to the bullies. If we catch a black eye, so be it, but everyone should know that we will fight to the bitter end, then appeal again. People who abuse the system would think twice because we won't cry uncle.
@Zak - If Cook retires, and Kneer moves up, how does that open a new lieutenant and a new sergeant? Wouldn't it just open up a new lieutenant position?
Zak Koeske
9:59 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
@Fair Lawn Mom - With Cook retiring, a captain spot is opened that must be filled by a lieutenant. The lieutenant who fills that captain spot leaves an opening at lieutenant that must be filled by a sergeant. The sergeant who fills the lieutenant opening leaves an opening at sergeant that must be filled by a patrolman. It's a domino effect all the way down to the lowest rank. Ultimately the department is left with one less patrolman.
fred
9:39 am on Sunday, March 10, 2013
You are 100% correct. Great response.
Just Facts
9:56 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
I hope he didn't hit his head when he fainted... Hope he is OK.
Just Facts
9:56 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
I hope he is OK after fainting like that!
BeInformed
9:56 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
Uncivil apparently is Uninformed.
lance guinta
9:56 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
Check your numbers Zak!
These lawsuits are vile, what happened to earning a promotion.
Hans Gruber
10:18 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
@Zak. Kneer isn't 12 yrs older than the chief....
Zak Koeske
10:24 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
@Hans - According to NJ.com's New Jersey By the Numbers database, Kneer has three years on Rose and eight on Cook. So if that's accurate it appears the statement about their ages being 10 to 15 years apart made in Kneer's lawsuit is incorrect.
BeInformed
10:27 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
FairLawn mom, you too need to do your homework!!!
BNice
7:57 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Fainting can cause brain damage! Jeesh!
www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/182524.php Maybe some type ofscan should be done first!
Deleted because of harassment
11:13 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
I went to school with both Rose and with John Cosgrove in my class. So Kneer is just two or three years older. One of his contemporaries who is no longer on the force had a brother that was also in the same class in the high school - there is no way there is a ten to fifteen year age difference.
BNice
12:47 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
We should check birth certificates! I heard he helped American tank divisions across France with General Patton! Make him the Captain - he can handle anything!
Walter Weglein
4:54 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
I'm on a campaign to get all you anonymous bigmouths to use your real names...if you have something to say about our town that's as important as this you oughta have the courage of your convictions...otherwise keep your opinions to yourself!
Jessica
5:15 am on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
What a useless endeavor. Clearly people have abused their positions of power within the town. Given these "civil servants" have not only immunity when they target individuals, they have tons of resources to target people.
Hell has not scorn like a bureaucrat's wrath.
The validity of the points many of the anonymous people here make are no less valid. The truth is the truth. The lack of courage to use one's given name doesn't change the abuses that they complain about.
fred
9:39 am on Sunday, March 10, 2013
Did you ever hear of freedom of the press. If you do not like it, please do not read the responses. It is your option. Everyone has the right to their opinion.
lance guinta
4:54 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
I didn't think Marines fainted.
BeInformed
6:19 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Walter why don't you ask "Deleted " how that approach worked out.
Deleted because of harassment
5:15 am on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Walter, we had that conversation. Feel free to mosey over to one of your neighbors who felt the need to use one of those fake names to post information from my facebook account on Patch in an attempt to discredit someone else when I was posting under my real name here. The political operatives on both sides have no concept of decency and will drag whoever and whatever they can into the mud with them. Having seen just who "unfriended" me in a bum's rush after that election pretty much clarified any doubts I had about who was who - and the recent bout of those who attacked me and spread a series of outright lies about me and then took their twisted panties and blocked me because, in the true tradition of bullies everywhere, they can't stand the concept of being called for what they were...anyone posting here under their real name should be very concerned about the actions they may have to cope with when the unstable believe they can be unaccountable, too. It certainly made me think a lot less of some of the other "friends" that want a world where their attack pals can cover for what they'd never say to your face.
Bruce Knuckle
5:15 am on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Will Bob be removing the stripper pole left behind in the captain's office?
Oh No
11:24 pm on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Capt ? you should have retired 10 yrs ago
Oh No
11:24 pm on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Glen Cauwels is the best man to take over the chief's position
fred
9:39 am on Sunday, March 10, 2013
This position required someone with more than 15 years experience. Bob would be perfect for the position.
Sal Lami
12:19 am on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Officer OBrien could be chosen, he he is a well rounded police man!