Police Promotions, Hirings Herald New Era

With the hiring of Officer David Zavistoski, of Edison, the Warren Police Department comprises 29 officers, just one shy of the 30-officer contingent the department boasted before the unusually large number of retirements and departures that occurred in 2009.

And with the promotions of 25-year department veteran Robert Glen and Herb Hentschel, Chief of Police Russell Leffert says the department is poised to better equipped to respond to issues facing it, from serving the growing population and traffic issues, to administrative challenges.

Glen was promoted to captain, filling a void the department has had for a few years, while Hentschel moved up to lieutenant, filling Glen's former assignment.

"As staffing allows, the captain position has been in and out, and for a department our size, it's a very helpful position," Chief Leffert said.

He said in his new role, Capt. Glen will be responsible for overseeing the department budgeting, Open Public Records Act requests and compliance, Internal Affairs investigations, and directly supervise Lt. Hentschel and William Keane.

For their parts, Lt. Hentschel will oversee the department's Patrol Division, while Lt. Keane continues as head of the Administrative Division, which includes the detective bureau, services and traffic departments.

The promotions and hiring were made at the Dec. 8 Township Committee meeting, which also included a promotion for Joe Cohen, to the rank of sergeant. Cohen has been been working in the detective bureau for the last 2½ years, and has been assigned to the Patrol Division.

"On the one hand, I hate to lose him in the detective bureau because he did a great job," Chief Leffert said. "But he'll be a terrific supervisor."