By MELISSA DIPENTO
Cherry Hill Police Chief Rick Del Campo signed a three-and-a-half year contract Wednesday to continue leading the township’s police force.
Del Campo’s salary is currently $138,500. This year, he agreed to no increase in his salary, said Township Spokesman Dan Keashen, due to the current economic climate. In 2012 and 2013, Del Campo will receive a two percent raise for each year.
Del Campo will also start contributing 10 percent toward his healthcare costs, being the first chief in recent history to do so, Keashen said.
Del Campo took the position as chief in April 2010. Del Campo started working for the township in 1978 as a police dispatcher and became a uniformed officer in 1990.
“Throughout my career as a Cherry Hill Police Officer I have been honored to work on behalf of the citizens of this town. As we move forward as a department I will continue to make progressive and innovative decisions that put our officers in the best position for success,” Del Campo said. “My objectives for the future include building a strong relationship with the Cherry Hill Fire Department and our joint Office of Emergency Management creating the best public safety operation in the state.”
Mayor Bernie Platt said he was proud to offer Del Campo a new contract.
“Last year picking Rick Del Campo as the chief of the Cherry Hill Police Department was one of the best decisions I’ve made as the top executive in the Township. Rick has proven to be an intelligent leader that has implemented monumental changes to a good department making it great. I felt confident in the solid management of our police department to award Rick a new contract and provide a stable leadership structure to our department for the next three and half years,” Platt said.
“Rick has gone above and beyond by adapting to the current economic environment and making the police department more effective and efficient through a variety of measures that saved the Township approximately $1 million this year.”
