The Newark Superior Officers Association has recently filed a complaint that claims that the recent changes by the Newark Police Department are illegal.
According to a letter dated Dec. 30 sent to the office of the state attorney general, the union claims that the approved ordinance for the city department of public safety is not in full compliance to state law.
The union claims that the head of the public safety department is not supposed to exercise law enforcement powers. According to the union, the city can't grant the public safety director power to direct and discipline certain senior officers according to the law. The union added, that they are not against the public safety ordinance, contrary they are in support but they want the ordinance to be harmonious with the state code.
A spokesman for the office of the state attorney general confirmed that the union's letter was received and is currently under review but declined to comment.
According to city officials, the ordinance was taken into while it was drafted with the assistance of legal experts.
The approved ordinance called for the base salary range for department head to be between $176,000 and $190,000.