Former Bergen County PD Chief Malakas to return as captain

YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: After submitting his resignation last month, former Bergen County Police Chief Uwe Malakas has pulled his papers and will return to the department as a captain, CLIFFVIEW PILOT has learned.

Jerry DeMarco

07/13/2011 10:08 p.m.

Malakas was replaced by Bergen County Public Safety Director Brian Higgins, who was named acting chief after Malakas submitted the initial paperwork.

Sources told CLIFFVIEW PILOT that Higgins (who had held the captain’s title before being promoted to director) will remain in charge. Higgins passed a civil service exam to qualify for the position.

Malakas logged 31 years with the county police and the Wallington Police. He was appointed as county chief last November by outgoing County Executive Dennis McNerney.

Malakas, 54, didn’t take the chief’s test, opting for retirement instead. However, county authorities have agreed to let him return, owing to personal circumstances, sources said.

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