Acting Chief Mantone's Last Day After 34 Years

Friday caps a 34-year career as a Madison police officer for Jerry Mantone, the acting chief of the Madison Police Department.

Mantone notified borough officials he was retiring last Monday, and Friday is his last day on the job.

On Thursday, there was a small send-off lunch for Mantone in police headquarters. Borough officials plan to formally recognize his service at the Borough Council meeting scheduled for 8 p.m. Wednesday at Hartley Dodge Memorial.

Mantone, who is married and has two children in college, said Thursday he plans to stay in Madison and is considering becoming a substitute teacher, or working in education in some other way.

Council President Jeannie Tsukamoto, the governing body's liaison to the police department, said she and her family first got to know Mantone as the school resource officer when they first moved to Madison.

"We were impressed by his overwhelming community-mindedness and his enthusiasm to coach kids to be good citizens," she said. "Jerry demonstrated the best of community policing in all of his duties. His presence will be truly missed."

Mantone, a lieutenant, was appointed acting chief in August to temporarily fill the vacancy left by former Chief John Trevena's retirement on Aug. 1.

The department's Investigative Division commander and president of the non-profit Project Community Pride, Mantone was hired as a special police officer in 1977, the same year he graduated from Madison High School. He became a patrolman in 1980, and was promoted to sergeant in 1988, then lieutenant in 1991.

Mayor Bob Conley, before presenting Mantone with a Borough of Madison medallion Thursday, said people think Mantone stands out because he's tall, but it's really because he smiles and is there to serve Madison.

"He delivered every day and he will be sorely missed—as a police officer, as acting chief, as a lieutenant. But I know Jerry will not be missed as a part of this community because he will be involved. That is Jerry's heart."

Tsukamoto said she will recommend the governing body appoints a new acting chief and hires a new police officer at the next council meeting.