Captains almost an even match for chief position
Two veteran officers: they will continue to work well together
BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer
Police Chief Nils R. Bergquist and Capt. Douglas J. Kinney were both sworn in on the same day 27 years ago, in December 1980.

Both men were sworn in on the same day when they were promoted to sergeant in May 1990 and to lieutenant in April 1996. Bergquist is badge No.83. Kinney is badge No. 85. Both men are 51.

Their internal police careers almost mirrored each other until Bergquist was promoted to captain in May 2001. Kinney was promoted to captain in March 2006.

Both men graduated from Northwestern University's Traffic Institute's School of Police Staff and Command. So what was it that tipped the scales in Bergquist's favor and led a Township Council ad hoc committee to recommend him to replace longtime Police Chief Ronald J. Dougard instead of Kinney?

"I can't give you an answer," Councilman Anthony Matthews, one of the ad hoc committee members said. "We went through the interview process. We spent an hour with each of them. The difference between Rick and Doug was probably slim to nothing, but you did have to choose one."

The decision to limit the list of candidates to captains and not lieutenants was the "thought process" of the Township Council and the administration, Township Administrator Scott M. Pezarras said.

Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis said shortly after Dougard submitted his resignation papers Nov. 30 that he favored limiting the list of candidates to the four captains on the police force. Acropolis also estimated it would take between three to six months for a panel comprised of retired police officers and Dougard to make their recommendation on who should be the next chief.

By limiting the field of candidates to captains, that meant only two, Bergquist and Kinney, would be eligible. Capts. John Rein and Riccio were both promoted this fall and did not have the required year in as captain to be eligible for the chief 's position.

Acropolis later recused himself from the decision because of personal ties to both men. Bergquist's daughter, Tiffany, is married to Acropolis' son, Robert. Acropolis also said he and Kinney had known each other for 20 years.

In late December, Bergquist and Kinney were told they would each meet with the Township Council's business and finance committee to discuss their visions for the police department, Council members Michael Thulen, Ruthanne Scaturro and Matthews serve on the business and finance committee.

But the review committee ended up being an "ad hoc" committee. Scaturro did not attend either of the men's interviews.

"It ended up being whatever three council members who were available at the time," Pezarras said.

The ad hoc committee consisted of Matthews, Thulen and Councilman Daniel Toth, who were all present during the interviews, said Pezarras, who also sat in on portions of the interviews. Councilwoman Kathy Russell, the lone Democrat on the council, said she was available to serve on the ad hoc committee, but was never asked.

"I was off during the Christmas break," Russell said. "I would have loved the opportunity to have at least been asked. I'm the one person on the council not able to utilize my skills, which are business-related."

Bergquist and Kinney were then given a week to submit "vision statements" on what they thought should be in the police department's future.

"I was the one that requested the vision statement papers," Pezarras said. "That included what their vision as chief would be in running the department and whether that gelled with what the vision of the council and administration was."

Kinney submitted a bound, 10-page report. Bergquist's report was four pages long, Pezarras said.

"I can tell you I participated 100 percent," Kinney said. "I put a lot of time and effort into it, and I'm proud of what I submitted. It was an opportunity to let them know how I felt about things."

The recommendation for chief was discussed by Scaturro, Matthews and Thulen. Pezarras also e-mailed all the council members a copy of the men's vision statements.

"I told them to read through these and the committee would have a recommendation for them at the organization meeting," Pezarras said.

Matthews said Acropolis did not pressure anyone on the committee to appoint Bergquist.

"I understand that would get said," he said. "Steve is not the kind that pressures us."

The choice between the two men was "difficult," Matthews said.

"Sometimes you have to choose between the lesser of two evils," Matthews said. "In this case, it was the greater of two greats. No matter which way we went, I think the citizens of Brick Township are the winners in this process."

The Township Council voted unanimously to appoint Bergquist at the New Year's Day organization meeting. Kinney did not attend the meeting. But he said late last week he was honored township officials thought both he and Bergquist deserved the opportunity to be considered for the chief 's position.

"We both agreed we would do the job and whichever one they picked, we'd be happy with it," Kinney said.