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Stating that Asbury Park is “at a precipice,” Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni wants the city council to act quickly to replace retiring Asbury Park Police Chief Mark Kinmon.

Gramaccioni’s made the comments in an email obtained by the Sun. The email was sent on Thursday to all five council members.

“No organization can run effectively without knowing who is in charge and who is leading the mission,” Gramiccioni wrote. “The APPD cannot remain leaderless without compromising its responsibilities. Chain of command is necessary for any law enforcement organization to function and the APPD is no different.”

Gramiccioni [above, holding microphone] also cited the change in city manager, as current manager Terence Reidy’s last day is Oct. 31. The council has been interviewing candidates to replace Reidy. Gramiccioni also noted that some of the council members are new to the job.

“The City of Asbury is currently at a precipice. Some of you are newly elected officials continuing to learn the processes of City government. There is an expected change coming at the City manager position, and the future of APPD leadership remains a question,” he wrote.

Councilman John Loffredo said that while the council plans to move quickly, the chief’s position cannot be filled before Kinmon’s retirement takes effect at the end of the year.

“We’ll do it as expeditiously as we can,” Loffredo said. “I’m not exactly sure what he’s expecting. The man has the job until the end of the year.”

Kinmon had announced his retirement in June. Last month, he offered to discuss with the council staying on  — a move Gramiccioni said in his email he supports — but Kinmon later closed the door on keeping the job.  His last day on the city payroll is Dec. 31. Kinmon is now using his accrued vacation time and will not return to work.

“The decision on who will lead the APPD is not a complex one — Simply put, you need strength in leadership; someone who you can delegate public safety responsibility to without unnecessary interference by municipal government; and someone who can demand productivity and accountability from their workforce,” Gramiccioni stated in his email.

If the council chooses to stay with a chief, rather than hiring a civilian public safety director, Gramiccioni wrote that the city “can and should get well out front of the process by drafting the necessary RFQ [Request for Qualifications] and begin the process of identifying qualified candidates.”

Citing his position as chief law enforcement officer in the county, and the “decades” his office has worked with the Asbury Park Police Department, Gramiccioni offered to be “an active participant” in the selection of a chief or public safety director.

Gramiccioni stated his concern that the hiring process not get bogged down.

“Please trust me when I say that it is in everyone’s interest to act quickly on this matter,” he wrote. “The decision does not need to get lost in committees, special meetings, public opinion or otherwise. Leaders assess, decide, implement and then assure execution of a strategy — let’s do that.”

Councilman John Moor called the disclosure of the email “irresponsible” by whoever released it to the Sun. He declined any further comment, stating the issue is a personnel matter.

Gramiccioni declined to comment, according to Charles Webster, public information officer for the Prosecutor’s Office. Mayor Myra Campbell and Councilwoman Amy Quinn also declined comment. Councilwoman Susan Henderson was unable to be reached for comment on Sunday.

Following is the full text of Gramiccioni’s email:

Dear Mayor Campbell and Members of the Asbury Park City Council:

I write to strongly encourage you, as the elected members of City government, to expeditiously arrive at a decision on who will lead the Asbury Park Police Department (APPD). For a number of weeks, there has been a public back and forth on whether Chief Kinmon will continue on as the Chief of the APPD. I have personally advocated that his contract be extended and continue to do so if that possibility still exists.

Assuming it does not, the City must quickly determine whether it intends to continue on with having a sworn chief in charge of the APPD, or whether it intends to proceed with hiring a Director. If the choice is the latter, the City can and should get well out front of the process by drafting the necessary RFQ and begin the process of identifying qualified candidates. As chief law enforcement officer of this County who is well-familiar with the law enforcement needs of the City, I am ready and willing to be an active participant in assisting you in any way possible. But decisions and actions are necessary and that lies with all of you.

No organization can run effectively without knowing who is in charge and who is leading the mission. The APPD cannot remain leaderless without compromising its responsibilities. Chain of command is necessary for any law enforcement organization to function and the APPD is no different. The decision on who will lead the APPD is not a complex one — Simply put, you need strength in leadership; someone who you can delegate public safety responsibility to without unnecessary interference by municipal government; and someone who can demand productivity and accountability from their workforce.

The City of Asbury is currently at a precipice. Some of you are newly elected officials continuing to learn the processes of City government. There is an expected change coming at the City manager position, and the future of APPD leadership remains a question. Moreover, the City continues to be monitored by the State while receiving transitional aid. I was appointed to lead and ensure the public safety of my County, to include Asbury Park. You all were elected to lead and likewise ensure the public safety of the City. We have that in common. Please trust me when I say that it is in everyone’s interest to act quickly on this matter. The decision does not need to get lost in committees, special meetings, public opinion or otherwise. Leaders assess, decide, implement and then assure execution of a strategy — let’s do that.

Any of you should feel free to contact me to discuss this matter. Since we have been in law enforcement working with the APPD for decades, we have distinct qualifications on what it takes to ensure the safety of your constituents. I look forward to a robust dialogue on the matters outlined above and what it takes to ensure the safety of Asbury Park.

Christopher J. Gramiccioni

Acting Prosecutor

Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office

Freehold

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