Musto Sworn in as Wyckoff Police Sergeant

Wyckoff Police Officer Michael Musto was sworn in as the department's newest sergeant at the Township Committee's meeting Tuesday night.

Musto has been with the department for 15 years, working as a vehicle maintenance officer, crime prevention officer, assistant to the traffic bureau, certified child passenger seat technician, officer in charge of school crossing guards, field training officer to new recruits, computer coordinator to the state police, officer in charge of forfeiture and seizure accounts and program coordinator for prescription drug collection. He is currently assigned to the detective bureau.

Committeeman Kevin Rooney is the current police commissioner.

"This is a well-run, well-respected force, and we're all fortunate as residents to have every one of you," Rooney said.

The committee approved a new ordinance at the meeting which raises the maximum number of sergeants on the force to 10 and the maximum number of lieutenants to three.

Police Chief Benjamin Fox recommended the ordinance to the committee in a letter. According to Fox, increasing the maximum number of officers will save money because the department will not need to pay as much overtime to officers when retiring officers take their vacation time prior to their official retirement.

Fox emphasized that this is not terminal leave, but time allotted in their contracts.

According to Fox, having maximum numbers higher than what is actually in use allows a promotion to replace retiring officers during their vacation, as opposed to having exisiting officers working overtime hours.