River Edge PD

By Cecilia Levine From Daily Voice

The River Edge Police Benevolent Association is urging residents and officials to oppose a plan that would eliminate the rank of captain from the borough’s police department, calling it a decision that could weaken leadership and public safety.

The warning comes ahead of a Dec. 11 vote on Ordinance #25-23, according to a letter issued by River Edge PBA Local 201. The union says the proposal would remove a key position that supports the department’s daily operations and command structure.

At the Nov. 24 council meeting, PBA President Matthew Piterski asked elected officials: "Is this truly a budget issue or is it a personal issue between council and the police department?"

Piterski argued that the PD's math contradicted the numbers presented to his department. He also said that the role had been eliminated in the past and only led to confusion within the department.

According to the PBA letter, the captain oversees scheduling, training, fleet management, equipment purchasing, internal affairs, professional standards, and accreditation. The union says the role is also critical during emergencies, serving as incident commander when the chief is unavailable.

The PBA argues that removing the rank would shift those duties onto sergeants who already manage field supervision. The letter says this could create gaps in oversight during patrol operations and reduce the department’s ability to maintain consistent leadership.

The union also says the change could raise liability risks for the borough by weakening its supervision structure. It warns that the loss of the position could lower morale, increase the chance of errors, and expose officers and the public to safety concerns.

The letter states that maintaining the captain rank is necessary for effective supervision and operational readiness, and asks the borough council to vote against the ordinance.

The borough has not publicly responded to the union’s concerns. The vote is scheduled for Dec. 11.