Politics & Government
Pearce Named Police Captain in Split Vote
Republican-Conservative majority makes appointment to Southampton Town Police Department.
In a party line vote, a majority of the Town Board voted Tuesday to promote Lt. Robert Pearce to the rank of captain.
Republicans Chris Nuzzi and Christine Preston Scalera and Conservative Jim Malone voted for the appointment, with Malone praising Pearce for his years of service to the town and the Police Department. Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst, an Independence Party member with the Democratic endorsement, and Democrat Bridget Fleming voted against it, saying they did not have sufficient information to make a decision.
“Although I do commend Lt. Pearce for his service, I’m going to gave to say I cannot support the resolution," Fleming said.
Find out what's happening in Southamptonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Throne-Holst agreed, saying, “We are put in a very unnecessary and unfortunate position.”
“I find it troubling that we cannot wait for some of that information to come forward, that we can’t give each other the opportunity to gain some level of comfort of any of these decisions, when there are questions that need to be answered," Throne-Holst said.
Find out what's happening in Southamptonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Charles McArdle, a retired detective and former PBA president, took aim at Malone for sponsoring a resolutionthat would add expenses to the police budget after the union .
“It’s a slap in the face to all the PBA members that gave up the concessions," McArdle said during the public comment portion of Tuesday's meeting. “You asked for those concessions, you got them, and now you’re playing politics.”
But Malone did not see the cost as having a significant impact.
“The significant financial impact that is being referred to — I don’t know where that concept comes from," Malone said. "It’s a $14,000 difference between lieutenant and captain."
He also responded to Throne-Holst and Fleming's concerns: "As far as additional information, I think that Lt. Pearce has dedicated his life to serving this town in a remarkable way and I am satisfied with his credentials and his service.”
The previous captain was Anthony Tenaglia, who retired Feb. 29 after the Town Board to the town police chief post instead of him.
Pearce was sworn in immediately Tuesday. According to the resolution to appoint him, his official start date is Friday, with a salary of $153,959.
