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Deputy Chief Higgins retiring, but staying |
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Thursday, 30 April 2009 |
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By Abby Fox June 19, Deputy Police Chief Bill Higgins is retiring from the police department, where he’s worked for 25 years, but he’s not retiring from East Greenwich.
Monday, the town council voted to hire him as the town’s Director of Management and Homeland Security, a post held for the time being by Town Manager Bill Sequino, at the cost of $5,000.
Higgins will work for 75 days and then on a voluntary basis after that, on updating the town’s emergency management, medical distribution, hurricane plans and other plans.
“Up to this pint, we’ve been doing what’s necessary but not going that extra mile,” he said.
The town does have an emergency plan in place but it has to be frequently updated, following state and federal regulations, he said. “There’s not one plan,” he said. “There are 15 to 20 plans, at least.”
As to his departure from the police force, “I feel the timing is right,” he said. “I’m fearful of what’s happening on the state level. Something’s got to give,” and he decided to leave “while I still have all my benefits intact.”
Personally, “I’m excited and nervous at the same time,” he said.
Higgins is actually going to earn a salary of $10,000, the town council discussed, but he’s confident he’ll get $5,000 in grant money, leaving the town to give the remaining $5,000 in a one-time stipend.
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