Photos by Alexis Tarrazi Above are the 16 police officers promoted. Shown below is Charles Giangeruso, who was promoted to Deputy Chief.

LYNDHURST (Sept. 10, 2009) — Sixteen officers were promoted to higher ranks in the Lyndhurst Police Department during an outdoor ceremony at Town Hall Park Tuesday, Sept. 1.

Charles Giangeruso was among those to move up, accepting the second highest rank in the department, that of deputy chief.

The number of officers in each rank, as well as that of the department as a whole, now matches township ordinance, which allows for a maximum of 52 officers.

Because six officers retired from the department during the last two years, with their replacements hired at lower salaries, the promotions — and attendant pay raises — were accomplished without an increase in the department’s operating budget, according to officials.

In addition to making the structure of the department compliant with township ordinance, the promotions will reduce overtime and increase efficiency, according to Chief James O’Connor.

“These promotions are very important to the department and the stability of Lyndhurst,” O’Connor said.

After an interview process and service record review, Commissioner of Public Safety Robert Giangeruso decided which of the 27 applicants to promote. O’Connor and the township’s civilian police aid also gave input, Giangeruso said.

Because the Lyndhurst Police Department is not part of the state’s civil service program, no tests are required for promotion. Township ordinance vests the power to promote in the commissioner of public safety alone, and his decisions are not subject to a vote of the entire board.

Unlike Rutherford, which is part of the civil service system, officers are promoted according to a different protocol. In order to advance, they must take a civil service test for their desired rank. Then the borough council chooses one from the top three scores, according to Mary Ann Jemison, spokeswoman for the New Jersey Civil Service Commission.

Giangeruso praised the newly promoted men.

“These are all well deserved promotions,” he said before the ceremony. “If you look at the officer’s bios you will see that they are an asset to the department. Their work pattern speaks for itself.”

The department is staffed with excellent people, he continued. “I wish we could promote them all.”

Mayor Richard DiLascio emphasized the benefit to the community.  “Today’s promotions … allow the department the ability to provide services in an affordable manner by avoiding costs in overtime,” DiLascio said during the sunny noontime ceremony.

“Words can’t express the pride I have for the community of Lyndhurst.”