HOBOKEN — Provisional police chief Edelmiro “Eddie” Garcia, who was appointed by Mayor Dawn Zimmer in June to replace retiring Chief Anthony Falco on an interim basis, had the third highest score on the civil service examination required to become chief permanently. Sgt. Melissa Gigante told NJ.com last week that the city typically pursues an interview process with the top three test takers when appointing a new permanent chief.
The scores will help determine whom Zimmer will look at for the permanent slot.
The results of the exam were released on July 2 and obtained by the Hoboken Reporter through an Open Public Records Act request.
Captain Tory Pasculli came in first with a 96 average, followed by Lieutenant Kenneth Ferrante, coordinator of the Office of Emergency Management, with a 90. Garcia received an 80 average. Lieutenants John Orrico and Charles Campbell scored below him.
All five applicants who sat for the exam passed it. Five more applied but failed to appear.
When the Hoboken police chief position was last available in 2009, Garcia took the civil service exam and appealed his oral scores. The appeal was denied by the Civil Service Commission.
In an interview on Wednesday, Director of Public Safety John Tooke said the process of hiring a new chief was on hold until Mayor Zimmer returned from vacation this coming week.
Prior to his promotion to provisional chief, Garcia was the most senior captain in the Hoboken Police Department, having served in that role since 1995.
Former Chief Falco was forced to retire this year because he turned 65, the maximum age at which police officers in New Jersey can serve. As Chief Garcia is currently 62 years old, he would only be able to serve three years before his own mandated retirement if selected for the permanent Chief position.
Hoboken’s interim police chief comes in third in civil service exam
