Town of Dover close to hiring public safety director

DOVER – At least 20 people submitted applications for the job of civilian public safety director for the town of Dover and a decision is expected to be made on a hiring for the $90,000 post by Sept. 1.

Town Administrator Donald Travisano said Tuesday that he interviewed between 20 and 25 applicants and then recommended that between 10 and 15 of the people be interviewed by the Board of Alderman’s personnel committee.

Mayor James P. Dodd said the list of interested applicants -- virtually all retired from law enforcement jobs or about to retire -- has been whittled down to three or four candidates who will be interviewed at length. The new hire will fill the vacancy created in March by the departure of Public Safety Director Richard Rosell.

Rosell, a retired state trooper who also served as public safety director in Springfield, was hired by Dover shortly after the Board of Aldermen passed a controversial ordinance in 2012 to create a civilian public safety director post that would oversee police, fire and emergency management services.

“A lot of people have shown interest in the job,” Dodd said.

Meanwhile, Police Chief Harold “Butch” Valentine has been absent from work since sometime in June and has informed Dover’s administration that he is using sick time and doesn’t expect to return until September. Valentine on Tuesday returned a message to the Daily Record but said he wasn’t available to talk at that time.

Valentine unsuccessfully challenged Dodd in the June 2 Democratic primary election for mayor. The chief also is facing multiple disciplinary charges filed against him this spring by Travisano, including misuse of a sick day to go fishing and failure to see that officers received all necessary training in use of excessive force.

In the chief’s absence, Lt. Frank Coppinger and Lt. Anthony Smith, who was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant at the board’s July 15 meeting, are in charge of the department.

Rosell left Dover to start a new job March 20 as public safety director in Indian River Shores, Fla.

Staff Writer Peggy Wright: 973-267-1142; pwright@GannettNJ.com.