Wyckoff December 12, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 9 The Wyckoff Police Department arrested four Oakland men on Dec. 1 and charged them with third degree criminal mischief following the Nov. 28 incident in which a 25 foot tall, eight inch diameter tree was cut down and logs were thrown through the window of a car. Police had responded to the 11:08 p.m. incident after the homeowner on Burma Road called to report that she had heard a chainsaw running and observed that her tree had been cut down. Sergeant Jack McEwan responded and discovered that, in addition to the tree being felled, three logs, each about 12 to 16 inches in diameter, about two feet in length and weighing about 60 pounds, had been used to cause damage to a car in the driveway. One log, which was thrown through the rear window of a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta, also damaged the interior of the car. Two other logs were thrown at the rear taillights, smashing them and damaging the vehicle exterior. Wyckoff Police Detective Sergeant Joseph Soto investigated and was initially led by the homeowner to consider the owner of an Oakland business as a possible suspect. Earlier that same day, the homeowner had a heated telephone discussion regarding an unpaid bill of about $300 that was in dispute. A short time later, the individual from the pool company showed up at her home and they continued to argue about the bill. He was turned away without receiving payment. Det. Sgt. Soto, with the assistance of the Oakland Police Department, quickly identified the co-owners of the Oakland business as a 22-year-old man and a 21-yearold man. The 21-year-old was identified as the person who had called the homeowner and disputed the unpaid bill and later showed up at the home. Sgt. Soto was further able to identify friends of both men, one of whom had a truck that was seen by the homeowner fleeing the scene after the damage. The investigation further disclosed that the men had enlisted the help of a 22-year-old and an 18-year-old. Four arrested following criminal mischief incident Two of the men, including the individual who had argued with the homeowner, turned themselves into police and provided a statement regarding the involvement of everyone in the crime. The men allegedly conspired together to seek revenge for the unpaid bill with a plan that one of them would cut down the tree in the front yard, while the others would throw the large logs at the car. The logs used were not from the tree that was cut down, but were brought with them for the purpose they intended. Each of the men was charged with one count of third degree criminal mischief with an estimated value of the tree replacement and car damage at $5,500. They were released on their own recognizance and the indict- The Wyckoff Township Committee has introduced salary ordinances for the police department and the department of public works. These ordinances will be considered for adoption on Dec. 18. The police salary ordinances provide a pay range that begins with $41,384 for a starting patrolman at the Bergen County Law & Public Safety Institute and rises to $46,919 upon graduation from the academy after six months. After the first year of service, a patrol officer would earn $63,964, which rises incrementally to reach $117,281 for the seventh year of service. The ordinance would also provide a salary of $123,032 for a police sergeant, $128,779 for a lieutenant, and $134,527 for a captain. The chief’s salary is not covered by the ordinance. The officer in charge of the detective bureau would receive an additional $1,750 and the other detective personnel would receive an additional $1,500 over and above base pay. The uniformed officers would receive a clothing New salary ordinances introduced able offense will be referred to Bergen County Superior Court. Wyckoff Chief of Police Benjamin Fox expressed thanks to the Oakland Police for their assistance, and praised Sgt. Soto for his investigative skills that led to the quick resolution of this crime. “This is without a doubt one of the most bizarre crimes we have seen in some time,” Chief Fox said. “Their actions are beyond stupid. They caused a significant amount of damage, they used a chainsaw at 11 o’clock at night, and to think that (among) these four men, not a single one of them suggested to the others that this might not be a good idea over a disputed $300 bill defies all common sense.” allowance of $575 per year. Police officers, however, will also contribute to the cost of their own insurance at $480 for single coverage, $600 for parent/child or employee/spouse, and $720 for family coverage. The ordinance for DPW salaries includes a base salary for laborers of $39,412, rising in eight increments to a maximum of $58,137 for employees on the payroll for eight years or more. The lead laborer would receive $67,996, the public works foreman would receive $67,996 to $69,628, and the public works manager would receive $72,892 to $87,511. Each member would also receive $130 for work boots. The employee assigned as a mechanic would receive an additional $750 per year. Employees would also contribute to their own health coverage on a sliding scale based on their salary, with a minimum contribution of 15 percent of the insurance cost for those in the beginner’s range to a maximum of 50 percent of insurance costs for those in the top bracket. J. KOSTER