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Promotions help transform Fair Lawn Police Department

SHOUT OUT: The transformation of the Fair Lawn police department continued this week with the promotions of a trio of officers with 60 years of service among them, coming on the heels of the appointment of Capt. Glen Cauwels to replace outgoing Chief Erik Rose when he retires at the end of the month.

Photo Credit: Courtesy FLPD
Photo Credit: Courtesy FLPD

“A long time coming,” a veteran borough officer told CLIFFVIEW PILOT. “[People will] be seeing a different department.”

That includes achieving accreditation — a distinction that, among other things, helps reduce liability insurance and assures that the force is meeting the highest standards of operation (SEE: Fair Lawn police undergoing accreditation process).

Mayor John Cosgrove swore in new Sgt. Timothy O’Shaughnessy (above, middle), new Lt. James Corcoran (left) and new Capt. Robert “Bob” Kneer (right), who’ll be the department’s second in command, heading its operations division.

Rank-and-file officers say they hope the promotions, combined with the retirements of Rose and Capt. Joseph Cook last month, will end the turmoil that had rankled the active department.

Kneer three years ago sued Rose and Cook, alleging that they created a hostile work environment through age discrimination and harassment and by violating his rights to a promotion. The borough and department were named as co-defendants.

Kneer, a Marine Corps vet approaching a record 40-year mark as a borough officer, said he intends to increase the police presence in Fair Lawn schools – a revised version of sorts of the D.A.R.E. program.

Corcoran, a U.S. Army Airborne vet who has worked with a variety of county and federal agencies, led the force in DWI arrests last year as a patrol sergeant.

PHOTOS: Courtesy FLPD

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