Sewall’s Point Town Manager Robert Kellogg announced today the appointment of Eric Cerniglia as Sewall’s Point Police Chief.  Cerniglia was chosen from over eighty candidates that applied for the position through a national search.  Kellogg commented that Cerniglia was on his short list from the beginning.  “His resume and personal information caught my attention immediately,” said Kellogg.  Cerniglia replaces Larry McCarty, who retired October 1, 2006.  Cerniglia will begin work in Sewall’s Point on January 15, 2007 at an annual salary of $80,000.  Mayor Dan Morris stated, “I was impress with Cerniglia’s thoughtfulness during our conversation and I believe he has the personal characteristics, professional experience and administrative talent we need to move the department forward.” 

Cerniglia worked with the Miramar Police Department from 1971 until 2003, when he retired as a Major with the department.  He graduated from Nova University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1977 and Biscayne College in 1980 with a Master of Science Degree.  In accepting the position, Cerniglia said he is excited about the opportunity and is looking forward to building a strong community and an oriented police force in Sewall’s Point.  For further information, contact Town Manager Robert Kellogg at (772) 287-2455.

    NEW CHIEF TO BE HIRED THIS week? at $ 80,000? TO BAD HE DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO HIRE NEW GUYS & GALS. WHY MORE GALS? STRANGE?

2006 review: A year ago: Jan., 2006:
   
          REST of story later, in cased you missed that meeting. Police Commissioner Chicky in the dark,
       no kidding. Police Commissioners an utter failure in "The Point". When new Town Mgr. asked this writer why
       he, the Chief (McCarty) wasn't fired immediately the writer responded with "Police Commissioners". We did
       not elaborate. Could have said previous "Police Commissioners" failed (Morris) to act when original complaints
       surfaced. To wit, Brady deposition. Post reporter Glenn Henderson asked the same question in his article
      "Fire The Chief Now". Interim Town Mgr. Hugh Williams almost got the job done till Chicky chimed in and
       then Mayor Baron told Manager Williams "just look out the window and watch the new bridge being built,
       don't make any decisions". paraphrased but close. Unfortunately for most all involved the Commission didn't
       know how to.
 

       Palm Beach Post:

           
 

Dec. 30, 2006

PSL detectives resign over racist remarks* In case you missed it, click it! Thought only in the "Point". But these cops got fired. 3 years later ours resigns & wants to sue town! See FDLE letters, 2002, w/ "People of color".

Nov. 30, 2006
 

 October 24, 2006
 Mr. Robert Kellogg Town Manager
1 South Sewalls pt Rd Stuart FI. 34996

 Re: Police Chiefs Benefits

Dear Mr. Kellogg,

Please be advised that the Law Offices of Steven T Greene have been retained by Chief McCarty to pursue monies rightfully eamed by the Chief that have not ben paid to him as of this date. At this time I am authorised by my client to extend the. following demand ,which appears more than fair, to promptly settle this matter.

 1.  50% of the accumulated sick leave which totals 16,275 dollars.
 2. Sick leave payment benefits which total 360 dollars.

We will give the town 30 days to pay the above amounts in full which total 16,635 dollars and direct that the funds be paid directly to the Chief to avoid further legal action by this firm.

Very truly yours,

Steven T Greene

P.S. webwriter note: This is a scan transfer from original document. Some distortion in header as a result of scanner equipment issues. The miss-spelling of words contained here in, are original!

In the writers opinion, and those of many other residents, the  taxpayers of Sewall’s Point were not provided the services they paid for. Check “View & Post” comments on website www.sewallspointer.org. We agree with the last comment regarding services rendered by the former Chief. Taxpayers paid for playtime & personal time.

"Chief @sewallspoint" - click this link for depositions.

Writer wants to know if Chief got $ 4000.00 in vacation pay! yes he was entitled under " Town's "Policy" Manual". Good news was/is he didn't get the $ 40,000 he wanted, nor the $ 24,000.00 Bausch wanted to give him. Bausch says he is "not running again".

Tuesday, Oct. 2 - 06:

Todays Palm Beach Post: Hopefully the New Twn Mgr. will pick a guy that doesn't need 70K a year. Pick someone who thinks of the Chiefs job here as a retirement opportunity and a people thing, how to keep them. We know the answer to that one. So do most all current & former Police Officers & Staff. call me at 219 9848 or write flashg36@yahoo.com for the answer.

"

Chief post a draw for 81

By Rachel Simmonsen

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

SEWALL'S POINT — Crime in this small, wealthy town rarely diverts from the occasional loud party or loose dog - little that would draw the interest of producers of the crime reality show C.O.P.S.

But potential police chiefs - now, that's another story.

By Friday, 81 people had applied for the town's job, vacant since Larry McCarty stepped down this month after 22 years in the police department.

The deadline to apply was midnight Monday.

"It has to be a pretty special place to draw more than 80 applicants," said Colin Baenziger, the consultant managing the search.

Though Baenziger never has helped find a police chief, his searches for town managers and city attorneys rarely draw more than 50 applications.

Baenziger guessed that the town's small police force - there are only about 10 officers - may be a draw for career lieutenants or captains looking to move up but in a smaller department.

Town Manager Robert Kellogg said the applicants are a mix of Florida and out-of-state residents, but he didn't know how many were from the Treasure Coast. Baenziger said he doesn't plan to look at the résumés until today.

Kellogg, who started his job last month and will be the one hiring the new chief, said he wants someone who has "good customer service" and can reduce the high turnover rate of town police officers, which Kellogg estimates has been about 50 percent in the past two years.

"One of the big concerns here is that people are leaving," Kellogg said. "We want to try to find somebody that's going to stabilize that situation and get staffing up to standard."

The town manager plans to winnow the pool down to about 20 candidates, running background checks on as many as 12 and interviewing about six. Kellogg said he expects to have a new police chief on board by the first of the year.

The new chief will be stepping into a role recently dogged by controversy. McCarty became a lightning rod in the town after he was sued for sexual harassment.

The case was settled, and the police chief denied the allegations, which were brought by a former clerk in his department. But several residents and a town commissioner called for McCarty's resignation in June when they read depositions for the case, in which McCarty admitted to having scenes of nudity on his computer.

McCarty, 67, said the lawsuit didn't prompt him to resign.

Rather, he said he was simply ready for something new after more than two decades in law enforcement.

Kellogg has not specified a salary range for the new police chief. When he retired, McCarty was making $70,525 a year.

Thursday, Sept. 21- 06

More on education of Police Officers at tax payers expense:

To : The "Police Commissioner" & Commissioners.
        Before spending large sums of Tax Payer $ for furthering education of Town Police, how about considering some required reading and/or seminars that might actually benefit the the student & the Tax Payer i.e  

The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale (Paperback - Aug 27, 1996)

They also have traveling seminars. Start the Lieutenant and other Officers off with Mr. Peale's renowned publication. Send to one of their seminars instead of spending $,$$$$ of Tax Payer $ on a masters! What does that have to do with Tax Payers? Consider the books & audio CD's by John C. Maxwell:    "Making Your Attitude Your Greatest Asset" - " Attitude - What Every Leader needs To Know"    " 25 Ways To Win With People". Most all are available in CD - audio. GO TO AMAZON.COM & SEARCH "MOTIVATIONAL" PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Buy new:  $12.95 $10.36   In Stock

Wed. Sept. 20-06

 Commissioner Bausch wants to pay "all of Lt. Tina's quest for a Masters degree. We ask what benefit to Town/residents? QuidPro/Quo: not applying to be Chief in exchange for a Masters not a good enough reason! taxes high enough! lt. Chief wants us to pay a years xtra worth of health benefits, lieutenant wants us to pay for her Masters degree.

Scroll Down for new stuff:  Monday Sept. 28Mon. Aug. 21-06
  wanted to leave resignation ltr. on top.


A note to the Chief & the Mayor:  Chiefs item 3. "Continued health insurance as was give to my predecessor." predecessor was not spending his time on tax payers dime watching skin flicks on taxpayers computers at Town hall. Many say Chief should have been fired and stripped of his pension!

The following from an earlier Town meeting when Interim Town Mgr. Hugh Williams, announced the Chief's June retirement! Minutes follow:

1. Police Chief's Retirement - Vice Mayor Chicky referred to a notice from the town manager that Chief McCarty is gong to retire in June. The Vice Mayor said he was surprised and wondered who picked that date.

   Mr. Williams said Chief McCarty picked the date and "volunteered it of his own free will" during a discussion about other matters.

   Vice Mayor Chicky said he had been told the date was January 2007.

   Mayor Baron said it was his recollection that Chief McCarty wanted to retire in January 2006 but "I asked him to stay on for six more months so we could get through these other issues with the new manager."

   Chief McCarty stated "my understanding was that I would stay for a year and I asked for an extension on the insurance." He added that "I did not say June, I believe I was asked if June was OK and I said OK." Chief McCarty said he would prefer January 2007 but would do whatever the Commission wishes "and if someone wants me to leave earlier just tell me.".

   In response to a question from Commissioner Bausch, Chief McCarty said the Town paid his predecessor's health insurance premiums for one year and that he would like "a year extension on that for my daughter and my wife."

   Vice Mayor Chicky said he would like to see the Police Chief stay on until next January.

   Commission Morris suggested that each Commissioner discuss this with Chief McCarty privately during the next two weeks.

   Commissioner Morris left the meeting at 9:04 PM.

2. Zoning Ordinance Amendments - Building Official Simmons

E-mailer says: "CLIMATE OF FEAR AND REPRISAL IN SEWALL'S POINT WAS CAUSED BY THE CHIEF ! IN DETAIL IN  DEPOS. AND THE 2000 FDLE COMPLAINT . WHAT WENT ON IN STUART FIRE DEPT. WAS NOTHING COMPARED TO S.P.POLICE. MCCARTY WANTS TO' HELP THE TOWN DURING THIS TIME OF TRANSITION" AND MAYOR MORRIS WANTS TO HAVE MCCARTY GET CONTINUED BENEFITS? HE HAS THE BALLS BECAUSE HE HAS MORRIS 100% SUPPORTING HIM

Tuesday, july 11-06,

Retired dentist, "Point" Police Officer Lenny Debellis going to Sheriff's dept.

Officer Feola going to Port St. Lucie Command. More action more $ ?

Wondering why officer Kit D. never showed up for his deposition? More here later.

 new post here Wed., June 20th.

Chief out on sick leave 1 week? Publication of depositions has him down so it is rumored. The writer, the recipient of the depositions by e mail, forwarded them to all the Commissioners. It turns out none of them had seen the depo's prior to the Mayors "100% standby by the Chief" statement to the press. The Mayor had not read them either, nor the Town Attorney prior to his statement in the press about assuming guilt. To date only Commissioner Osteen has stepped up to the plate and  publicly said ,"not me, after reading the statement he was shocked and dismayed by the behavior of the Chief as per the depositions", or words to that effect. Depositions are not "hearsay" by the way.

Commissioner Busha tells ex-mayor SQ she didn't get Depo's as she changed her e mail address. Funny cause her address new address was noted when her old e mail address, addressed. We sent them to new address and no "rejection" notice appeared. Hhhhhmmmmnnn? Will re-send to her because we are sure she would not want her name associated with the " 100% support the Chief" remark  after reading dep's. if  she doesn't understand the outrage of the Towns lady folk, then perhaps they will e mail her.
She should be supporting her constituents not the behavior of staff in this case.

News from Town hall", Someone appears to have violated the Town Clerks office computer, printed and then gave to mayor Morris the contents of an e mail from Don Osteen to Town Clerk, contents had asked TC to put on agenda for next town meeting' " Fire Chief and Lieut. T.", Comm. Osteen later with drew that request. Thief however, (computer violator a "thief") passed the original e mail request to The Mayor. Would seem Mayor knows who the "violator" is. No?

From "View Comments":

Date:  6/14/2006, 10:31 am, EDT