By Andrea Alexander
Passaic County Herald News
PASSAIC, N.J. — The City Council on Tuesday night approved a separation agreement with Police Chief Daniel Paton, who is retiring, and announced the appointment of Capt. Richard Diaz as acting chief.
Paton, who has served as chief for five years and has been a member of the Police Department for 35 years, will be on paid leave starting June 1, when Diaz will assume the lead role on an acting basis. Paton will be paid in January for his unused vacation time and $18,000 for unused sick time for a total of about $100,000, under the terms of his contract.
Mayor Alex D. Blanco notified the City Council in a memo on Friday that he was appointing Diaz as acting chief. Diaz will receive a $10,000 raise, bringing his annual salary to about $155,000, Blanco said.
Diaz, who also serves on the school board, was selected over two deputy chiefs and has been accused of a number of misdeeds in recent years.
He faced allegations last year that he operated illegal apartments that did not have certificates of occupancy in a building he co-owns, and, in 2008, that he improperly intervened as officers tried to enforce closing-hour regulations at a bar he was patronizing. In 2009, the city paid $500,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit against the department and Diaz filed by a female officer who accused Diaz of spreading rumors that she had sex with her former patrol partner in a dark alley while she was on duty one night in 2005.
One city resident cited those allegations when he questioned the appointment during Tuesday’s meeting, and asked, “Is that a wise choice?” But Council President Gary Schaer responded that the mayor has the authority to make the appointment.
Blanco said he chose Diaz to be acting chief based on his ties to the city and his experience leading divisions in the Police Department. Diaz has served as head of internal affairs and the detective bureau, and lives in the city, Blanco said.
“He has proven leadership in different departments,” the mayor said, adding that he believed Diaz would “do an excellent job” as the acting police chief.
Blanco said Diaz “knows the needs and knows the city” and would be “a 24/7-accessible” head of the department.
Blanco and Diaz, who attended the meeting, both declined to comment on the allegations against Diaz.
However, Diaz thanked the mayor and council for the opportunity to serve and said he would “strive to turn what I consider a good department into a great department.”
Some community leaders were keeping an open mind about the appointment. City activist Kasim Washington said he wouldn’t “hold someone accountable because of accusations,” adding “everyone gets a chance.”
Washington said he hopes the acting chief will work on eliminating gang violence in the city.
Copyright 2011 North Jersey Media Group Inc.