Vernon names new police captain, lieutenant

| 10 Dec 2013 | 04:58

    Two police promotions were unanimously approved by the township council at Monday night's meeting.

    The council approved the promotion of lieutenant Stephen Moran to captain and second-in-command under newly installed police chief Randy Mills. The council also approved the promotion of Sgt. Daniel Young to lieutenant.

    Their promotions will be effective Jan. 1, 2014.

    The township had been without a police captain since 2009, but Mayor Victor Marotta said that with the addition of new patrolmen and the adjustment of roles, the force needed a complete management team in order to keep up with the changes.

    Marotta said Young and Moran will “bring the highest degree of leadership to our department” and he is “excited about where we are going with the Vernon police department as we move to the next

    level in the years ahead of us.”

    The councilmen expressed their pride and admiration for the work Young and Moran consistently provide for the township and are confident in their ability, along with the Mills and Lt. Brian Jernick, who as promoted Nov. 14 to continue to perform top-notch police work.

    Over the course of the next two years, the Vernon police force will recruit an four more patrolmen in order to keep up with the needs of the residents. Marotta said he plans to fill two positions in 2014 to fill vacancies that have lingered in the department. He said he also plans to add two additional officers in 2015.

    As a recreation town for the majority of the time, Vernon needs an expansion in the police force in order to consistently serve its fluctuating population.

    Marotta said he remembers a more extensive and complete police force during his time as mayor in 1986, and would like to see the town restored to that level of service, as a starting point. He said that with the additional servicemen and recent promotions, that the future of Vernon Township’s Police Department is very bright.