Police Chief Hopes to Bolster Dwindling Officer Employment Numbers

A tight budget has meant a decrease in many municipal departments, and Manchester's police force is no different.

Chief Brian Klimakowski said that he hopes to add to the department's dwindling numbers in the coming months as more retirees leave.

"I've never seen the department this low as long as I've been here in 24 years," Klimakowski said.

The chief said that the department currently has 61 officers, which is seven fewer than normal. Two more are expected to retire in August, he said, and that number could dip as low as 57 by the end of the year if more officers retire and new hires are not put on patrol in the interim, Klimakowski said.

The chief said that PBA Local 246 concessions earlier in the year have helped provide the framework for increasing force numbers. for officers should reduce budget strains going forward, Klimakowski said.

"Those cost savings will hopefully enable us to get more people and bolster those numbers back to where they should be," he said. "We should be able to bring back more than we originally anticipated."

But the chief is also realistic about the current state of municipal government in a difficult economy.

"The bottom line is, what we do has to fit within the budget," Klimakowski said. "And I understand that. You have to be very creative as far as the way we get people hired and how we promote people."

The department began accepting applications for its fitness test — the first stage in the hiring process — in April. Klimakowski said that of the 270 who applied for the test, 100 did not make it to next step, the written test.

Now, the department is considering the top 25 scorers from the written exam for new hires.

"We're bringing them through the process of who has what certifications, what college background they have," Klimakowski said.

"We have some really, really good candidates," the chief said. "I'm going to be disappointed if I can't get to hire some. They really are that good."

The township anticipated adding three new hires, while Klimakowski said he would like to increase his force by six or more.

"The town's thought of a replacement is slightly different than mine," Klimakowski said. "I'm just trying to make it fit into the budget."

Though Klimakowski said he hopes to present his recommendations for hire to Mayor Michael Fressola within the next two weeks, it will take longer before new officers are actually on the streets. 

Those starting out without any previous training must complete over five months of police academy, followed by three months of on-the-job training with Manchester officers. Hires who have already passed the academy for another department would only be required to complete the three months of Manchester training.

"People are concerned when they hear the number is down," Klimakowski said. Fewer employees has meant internal transfers, such as moving traffic safety and service officers to patrol. 

"Our number one priority here is answering calls for service, so I've had to bleed out the other units to keep patrol at a certain level," Klimakowski said. "Right now, things are very thin. We're at the almost breaking point where you have to start cutting back on certain services because there just aren't enough people to do it."

The most recent retirements came on June 1, when Sgt. John Tomasulo and Ptl. Daniel McCallum left the force.

Tomasulo, who was active with the Manchester Emergency Response Team, served Manchester for over 28 years, while McCallum, who worked in the Juvenile Division, was on the force for 25 years.

Sgt. John Williams said that Tomasulo respected the township's residents and was an involved leader.

"Sgt. Tomasulo made himself available to all the new recruits where he would instill in each of them what the true meaning of being a police officer in the Township of Manchester was really about," he said. 

McCallum, Williams said, found a way to connect with Manchester residents of any age.

"On any given day, you could find Danny talking to many of the residents, whether they were teenagers or seniors," he said. "He gave his time and needed advice to every resident that approached him."

The department is preparing to move officers up the ranks and into vacant positions, as the township council last month approved a resolution authorizing a service agreement for sergeant and lieutenant testing. This should help get the force heading in the right direction, according to the chief.

"The goal is to replace some of the guys who retired and get a structure back into the police department," Klimakowski said.