Wildwood Police Chief Paul Valentino has announced his sudden retirement, effective at the end of the month.
“I will meet with candidates for interim chief,” said City Manager Jason McHugh, adding that commissioners will need to hold a special meeting before Christmas to approve the appointment.
Mayor Ed Wolf said a permanent chief should be appointed as soon as possible and the interim chief should serve only for a brief period.
McHugh said Valentino gave no reason for his departure in a retirement letter. Valentino did not return a phone message left at his office.
He was named to the post nearly two years ago to replace chief Eddie Reeser, who retired in July 2017. A veteran department captain, Valentino often represented the department at commission meetings and handled contacts with reporters.
He was endorsed by Reeser and applauded by about 20 police officers and other department employees when he was appointed. Reeser said the captain had the education, ability and institutional knowledge superior to any other applicant.
Wolf supported Valentino, but at the time questioned why the city should hire a chief from within the ranks instead of conducting a wider search.
When Valentino was granted a $7,000 pay raise a year ago, Wolf criticized the move, saying he did not want to “spend money like a drunken sailor.”
In August, Valentino and his wife purchased a home in the Village of Fenney for $262,500.
During his tenure, Valentino oversaw the continuing process to build a new police headquarters near the intersection of U.S. 301 and County Road 462 West. He also dealt with the aftermath of an electrical fire.
Construction of the new station has not begun and police officers are operating out a temporary trailer after the Oct. 21 electrical fire caused dispatchers to flee the Huey Street police station. Sparked by an electrical wire that fell on a fence outside the building, the fire destroyed the much of the department’s equipment.
At Monday’s meeting, commissioners endorsed a plan by McHugh to establish a police substation on Jackson Street. The city will renovate a city-owned building that used to house a day care center.
McHugh said renovating the space is a better option than renting a second temporary trailer.
“I think establishing a presence on the West Side is a really good idea,” said Commissioner Joe Elliott.
Don Clark, another former Wildwood police chief, was praised by commissioners Monday as he ended his tenure on the city commission. Clark did not run for re-election.
