Now is the perfect time for change in South River

The South River Police Department saw the official changing of the guard when Wesley Bomba was sworn in as the new police chief last Wednesday night.

The official act brings to a close the dilemma plaguing the Borough Council’s since former Police Chief Francis X. Eib announced his retirement plans last year.

At that time, Bomba was suspended from his position as the only captain on the force while the county investigated sexual harassment charges against him.

Although he was eventually cleared of four out of the five charges, his suspension at the time left the borough without a clear line of succession to the chief’s post.

Faced with no undisputed replacement for Eib, the council considered hiring a civilian police director instead.

However, this issue upset the local Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association and caused heated debates to be played out in the community, in the newspapers and at council meetings.

Now, hopefully, with Bomba’s official appointment to police chief relations between the council, the community and the police department can change. And luckily, Bomba is prepared to do just that.

The strained relationship between the police union and the governing body was not the only problem faced by the force in recent years.

One resident claimed he was assaulted in a holding cell of the police department in August 1992, and a rookie police officer who lost his job as a result of the incident sued the borough.

But for the good of the community and the safety of the police officers and residents, the problems should stay in the past.