By Mary Thurwachter
Sean Scheller won’t be calling it quits as Lantana’s top cop this month — as he had been scheduled to do.
The police chief wants to stay — and the town wants him to remain. Council members told him so at their June 9 meeting and approved an ordinance change at their June 23 meeting that makes it possible.
Scheller has been in the five-year Deferred Retirement Option Plan, Town Manager Brian Raducci said. Employees in DROP are considered “retired” for pension purposes, but remain active employees for all other aspects of their job.
Being in DROP allowed Scheller to receive his regular pay while also earning pension benefits, which accumulate and are paid out when the DROP period ends.
Scheller’s DROP period was set to end July 31, when he would have to retire. But the council approved an ordinance change that allows Scheller to continue working as chief while stopping any additional DROP benefits, Raducci said. Scheller also won’t receive his accumulated DROP benefits until he officially retires from his job and begins collecting his pension.
Scheller turns 55 this month and has worked for the Lantana Police Department for 30 years. He wants to remain in his job, Raducci said at the June 9 meeting.
“He loves his job, he loves who he works with and he’s been in it for 30 years, so he’s committed that he wants to stay on,” Raducci said. “He could go somewhere else and collect his full retirement and a salary comparable to his salary here, but that’s not his preference. He would love to see some projects he started here come to fruition.”
Town Council members praised him and so did residents, including Michelle Donahue of Hypoluxo Island.
“Our chief is the greatest and our town is so incredibly lucky to have him here,” she said. “We have the best Police Department, and I agree, it comes from the top down. He’s engaging. He listens. He cares.”
After hearing a round of applause, Scheller said the decision to stay was “a no-brainer.” He thanked the council, the staff and his officers for their dedication and support.
“I don’t want any of my successor chiefs to go through what I went through,” he said, remembering the day 13 years ago when he became acting chief after a previous top cop left abruptly.
He said he wants to see some of the projects he started take hold. One of them is the take-home car policy, which will go into effect Oct. 1. The policy will allow officers to take their vehicles home at the end of their shifts. The program will be phased in, starting with five vehicles, and be based on seniority.
“We are very progressive in our staffing and hiring right now,” Scheller said. “When I leave here, I want this department to be fully staffed.”
Scheller, whose annual salary is $200,322, said he “really enjoys working with people and solving problems on a daily basis.”
He promised to give the town his “heart and soul” for the next two years … or maybe more.
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