The sitting chief had learned of the plan nine months earlier in a slide show by Public Affairs & Safety Director Martin Hellwig. As Chief Edward Santiago looked on, the plan to eliminate his title flashed on the screen.
“What you see is a dangerous politicization of the police department,” Santiago said after the meeting where his choices were spelled out as retirement or staying on as a captain. Santiago ultimately chose the latter and through a quirk in pay scales ended up with a higher salary than he had as chief.
With the chief's title abolished, Hellwig became acting police director in addition to his title as director of the Department of Public Affairs & Safety, in effect reporting to himself. The department, one of three mandated in the city's special charter, once contained an array of divisions, but had been pared down to just Police and Fire divisions in a reorganization under former Mayor Mark Fury.
Whether through haste or sloppiness, the title of police director was created without a salary range, which was added in 2010. Hellwig drew only one salary for both jobs.
As director, Hellwig changed the table of organization one year to increase five captains to seven, later reducing the number to three, forcing Captain Siddeeq El-Amin to choose between demotion or retirement.
Captain Siddeeq El-Amin leaves the building, March 31, 2010
El-Amin chose retirement.
Hellwig served as department head from January 2006 through December 31, 2013, spanning former Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs' two terms. He was additionally named permanent police director in March 2009 and served through 2013.
After Mayor Adrian O. Mapp took office on Jan. 1, 2014, there was some discussion of dividing the joint director/department head title, but Carl Riley holds both titles.
Hellwig sought council approval for an accreditation of the Police Division, but it was not approved during his tenure. It was finally approved in March 2014, to be funded entirely through forfeiture money.
On Monday, March 21, a presentation on the Police Division will be made at 7 p.m. in the Senior Center, 400 East Front Street. A revised notice Friday includes a second item, a resolution in support of the Police Division.
At the end of last Monday's council meeting, Councilwoman Gloria Taylor called for an investigation of the Police Division's policies and procedures and although details such as naming special counsel and funding source were lacking, the resolution passed unanimously.
Taylor made a lengthy commentary which appeared to be related to personnel issues raised by supporters of Lt. Ken Reid, who say Reid is being forced to choose between retirement and demotion. Officials by law cannot openly discuss personnel matters, so the public has heard only the supporters' allegations. The upcoming special meeting may shed light on the workings of the division, though maybe not on Reid's specific situation.
--Bernice
Bernice thanks for shedding light on the past because if there were no Hellwig the City of Plainfield may not have the current problem in the police division.
ReplyDeleteHe was a political hack that talked out of both sides of his mouth. He allowed politics and personal feeling interfere with day-to-day operations.
You mentioned El-Amin getting his forced retirement but didn't mention the package deal that it was. It was a power move to demote another Captain to Lieutenant. Keeping it simple, two senior Captains were forced to retire or be demoted so Hellwig could demote a third. The shame of it, it was all personal because this was personal over Hellwig getting exposed for committing a questionable act. I don't have to put the act in the blog because if anyone truly wants to know, they can google it. Oh yeah, he also try to demote a Sergeant over it and refused to promote the same Sergeant for no reason except exposing him.
Unrelated to that Hellwig tantrum, he sent another Sergeant home, refusing to let him return to work and paid him for about two years after he tried to unsuccessfully fire him. That was all over a personal episode between the two. Two years paid to stay home. I'm sure the taxpayers would have appreciated that back then.
There was no public outcry for any of the above officers as I recall.
If you look at articles on the internet in reference to negative Plainfield Police conduct, most if not all happened prior to the current administration.
It seems that the current Administration has inherited a problem by the lack of leadership of Hellwig and his Mayoral counterpart who seemed to interfere in every City Departments business if it affected one of her constituents.
#leakybag...
The City is now the recipient of bad policy decisions from the former administration and Martin Hellwig. Promotions during that time period were made on who you knew not an individuals performance. Politics should not be in either the police or fire departments.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to see that this problem started with Sharon, perhaps the City's worst mayor. We also know that Gloria Taylor is full of histrionics and I'm sorry to see that the members of the Council bought into it. We still have reminders of Sharon in some of the City Council members. This is not a compliment.
ReplyDeleteWith Hellwig for eight years the place was put on a steady downward spiral, it wont be fixed over night but Director Riley is doing a great job fixing the errors of the past and it doesn't seem he is letting politics stand in his way. Rome wasn't built in a day!
ReplyDeleteBRING BACK THE CHIEFS POSITION
ReplyDeleteMake no mistake ,politics have always been intertwined within the P.D,Chief or no Chief.
ReplyDeleteThe real issue here is the severity of the punishment of the LT.Yes. I am aware of the situation ,and would bet my home Civil Service will overturn it if it's administered.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poAd9YLPZbg
ReplyDeleteBernice neglected to report on what was said by Gloria Taylor. I fully support what Gloria Taylor said. I have no respect for Cory Storch, who told us Gloria Taylor was being emotional. Bernice, you're a really bad reporter and your intentional ignorance has been noticed by many.
You are obviously a "product" of Plainfield . Way to go Elizabeth
DeleteHmmmm. Been awhile but not the way I heard the story
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