LAWRENCE — When former New York City police officer John Romero came here in 1999, many felt he would spend three years as the city's police chief and then move on.
But nearly a decade later, Romero, who owns property here and considers the city his home, intends to sign a one-year contract extension, which keeps him as Lawrence police chief until 2014.
Romero has four years left on his current six-year contract. The extension of that contract will keep him here until the age of 63 when he intends to retire, he said.
The accord makes Romero the second-longest running police chief in the 160-year history of the Police Department. It also provides the chief, who currently earns $135,000, with job security through the next mayoral administration.
Come 2014, Romero, now 58, says he does plan to retire. He said he always planned to retire from law enforcement in his early 60s. But after attending a professional conference and vacationing in California last week, Romero said he decided he definitely wanted to stay on the job a bit longer.
"I love what I am doing, but that's as far as I want to go," he said, noting he exercises daily and is considered to be in excellent health.
The single-year contract extension carries no added incentives or terms. "It's an extension of the same four-year contract I already have," Romero said.
A year ago, Romero turned down a $3,000 raise he was promised by contract. The city had laid off more than three dozen workers and Romero said he felt it wasn't appropriate to take the increase.
Mayor Michael Sullivan described the contract extension, in the works for several months now, as "phenomenal." Under Romero's tenure as chief, city crime has dropped dramatically and department integrity and morale has improved greatly, he said.
Sullivan said Romero has led a police department that's driven by crime data versus the "gut feel" approach it had in the past. He also said Romero regularly attends city and neighborhood meetings and readily addresses community concerns.
"This just makes sense for the people of Lawrence. ... They will know they still have the same strong police chief through the next administration," Sullivan said.
Sullivan's second term ends next year. The next city mayor will serve from 2010 to 2014.
In the next five years, Romero said the department needs to continue to reduce crime and improve the quality of life for residents. A great focus must be placed on technology, he said.
"We need to get the department to where we are on the cutting edge," he said. "There are so many things out there now that we can use to improve our productivity."
Romero also wants to continue to "develop the future leaders of the department. Because when I do leave, I want this department to continue to succeed."
Romero said the new contract does not officially rule out an interest in running for mayor. Previously, he's said he loves his job but is very concerned about the city's future leadership.
"That option is still available," Romero said.
If Romero stays until 2014, it will make him the second-longest running police chief since Charles Hart, who served from 1958 to 1978. Police Chief James O'Sullivan served a combined 12 years between 1882 and 1912, according to Police Department records.
Romero and his longtime girlfriend, Sharon Birchall, live in the Mount Vernon section of the city. Romero has two grown daughters who live in California.
