Joseph Muti just figured it wasn’t meant to be, that the long-time Weehawken police officer and a lieutenant for the last 13 years wasn’t going to see the day that he would be promoted to captain.
“I took the captain’s test in 1988 and placed fourth,” Muti said. “The list was good for four years and once that went by, I figured it would never happen.”
So Muti has bided his time, first with the detective bureau for six years, then as a desk lieutenant. For 32 years, Muti has dedicated his life as a police officer in Weehawken and remains the officer with the most amount of experience in the entire department.
“I’ve seen a lot of changes go on since I was hired,” Muti said. “The development of the waterfront, a revitalized Park Avenue. There’s been a lot of growth in the town. I’ve lived in the town, feel like I’ve grown up with the town. And that’s been good, because we’ve needed more cops, who in turn need to be on the ball. It’s been a good run so far.”
Muti could have handed in his retirement papers seven years ago, but he’s not ready.
“I still love the job,” Muti said. “It’s in me. I can’t help it. Plus, I still have kids in school. It’s too easy to give up too soon.”
Especially since Muti not only has seven children, but he also has seven grandchildren, with the latest, a granddaughter named Antonia, born last Tuesday to his daughter, Anna Marie, coming into the world weighing eight pounds and nine ounces.
“I absolutely have to do some policing at home,” Muti said. “My kids tell me that when I get home, I’m supposed to be off-duty. But it doesn’t work that way.”
Muti was all set to finish his career as a desk lieutenant until he was called in to see Public Safety Director Jeff Welz last week.
“I just had come back from a cruise to Bermuda when I got the call,” Muti said. “He [Welz] said that they wanted to promote me to captain. It shocked me. I never expected it. I was really surprised. It was a long, hard fight that I never thought I’d see happen.”
Last Wednesday, at the regularly scheduled Township Council meeting, Muti was promoted to the position of provisional captain, joining current captains William McLellan and Michael Avoletta as the three captains on the 54-member police force.
And four police officers, Alex Banos, Michael Avoletta, Jr., David Stratton and Richard DeCosmis, were promoted to the rank of sergeant.
The younger Avoletta is the son of the current captain. And DeCosmis is the son of retired Public Safety Director Richard DeCosmis, Sr., and the brother of current police officer John.
“We never replaced other supervisory officers who had retired,” Welz said. “We looked at the upper management structure and realized that we needed three captains to complete the shifts. This way, we have coverage around the clock. This way, we have supervision through each shift and we’re providing residents the coverage necessary for proper crime prevention.”
Welz agreed that the promotion of Muti was a long time coming.
“It’s a well deserved promotion,” Welz said. “Captain Muti has put in 32 years of dedicated service to the force. No one has put in the amount of time that he has. He brings a tremendous amount of experience to the position, both as an officer and as a supervisor. In a small department, it’s very hard to get promoted, especially to the rank of captain. But he’s paid his dues and we’re ecstatic to be able to reward him.”
The new sergeants will be placed in charge of the patrol squad. They were the four officers who finished at the top of the state Department of Personnel competitive test list.
The next step will be to hire four new police officers, which Welz predicts will take place within the next month or so.
“We’ve received permission from the mayor and Township Council to hire four new officers,” Welz said. “This way, we can improve our supervisors and keep the same level of patrol officers at the same time.”
Muti has been given the title on a provisional basis, provided he takes the captaincy test within the next few months. But for now, he’s Captain Muti – a rank he didn’t think was possible.
“I can’t complain,” Muti said. I’m happy to be a part of the new generation of Weehawken police officers. I want to be able to teach the younger cops how to be better. This was a big moment for me and my family and it’s a great time in my life.”
Added Muti, “My kids are happy that I’m captain, but I can’t be the captain at home. The chief at home is my wife. She’s the real chief.”