Department veteran sworn in as police lieutenant
NEWTOWN TOWNSHfP - Police Sgt. Robert A. Matthews was sworn in as the township’s new police lieutenant at the Jan. 9 supervisors meeting with more than 50 family, friends and IHOORw RIfiFHUV Ln DWWHnGDnFH.
As part of the newly organized police department hierarchy, Lt. Matthews, 57, is also second-in-command to Police Chief Henry “Rick” Pasqualini.
fn a swearing-in ceremony, District Judge Donald Nasshorn administered the oath to Matthews, a 27-year veteran of the township police department.
“f sincerely appreciate Chief Pasqualini in placing his faith and trust in me,” said Matthews, who lives in Newtown with his wife, Darlene.
Chief Pasqualini was unable to attend the ceremony because he was at home recuperating after a short-hospital stay.
fn his place Jean Tanner, the police department’s executive assistant, listed the lieutenant’s resume and accomplishments.
After working in the early 1980s as a part-time police offiFHU Ln WULJhWVWRwn 7RwnVhLS, 0DWWhHwV MRLnHG WhH 1HwWRwn IRUFH DV D SDUW-WLPH RIfiFHU Ln 1985, EHFRPLnJ IuOO-WLPH WhH IROlowing year.
fn the 1990s, he worked as a detective and was promoted to sergeant in 1997 handling administrative duties. Matthews was part of the County Emergency Response Team (CERT), as wHOO DV VHUvLnJ DV D flHHW PDnDJHU, UDnJHU PDVWHU DnG fiUHDUPV instructor for Newtown. He also has a bachelor’s degree from the rniversity of Phoenix.
“,’P FRnfiGHnW WhDW hH wLOO uShROG hLV GuWLHV wLWh SURIHVsionalism,” Tanner said.
Matthews replaces Lt. Glenn A. corsyth, who the supervisors appointed in June to the newly-created position of townVhLS fiUH FhLHI WR RvHUVHH WhH (PHUJHnFy SHUvLFHV DHSDUWPHnW.
Since corsyth’s departure, the police department’s two police lieutenant positions were vacant, and the sole captain’s SRVLWLRn wDV DOVR unfiOOHG.
fn December, Chief Pasqualini had asked the supervisors to amend the township’s administrative code to formally to eliminate the captain’s position, as well as one of the two police lieutenant ranks. rnder the new hierarchy, the remaining lieutenant would be second in command of the department reporting directly to the chief.
The proposed changes would also require that the newlyappointed lieutenant would require a minimum of two years of supervisory experience, but a bachelor’s degree for the position would no longer be mandatory.
3DVTuDOLnL DOVR hDG UHTuHVWHG WhH MRE GHVFULSWLRn RI SROLFH business manager, which Jean Tanner has held, be changed to police executive assistant, with the duties remaining mostly the same.
At the meeting, before Lt. Matthews was sworn in, the supervisors voted 4-0, without debate, to change the administrative code governing the police department’s command. Supervisor sice-Chairman Matt Benchener did not attend the meeting.
fn other action, the board also voted 4-0 to approve a oneyear $150,000 services agreement for 2013 with the all-volunteer Newtown cire Association (NcA) which covers Newtown Borough. The deal ends several months of negotiations, which, at times, had languished.