NORTHAMPTON -- The city's police chief has not disclosed why a high-ranking officer remains on paid administrative leave, but has acknowledged that Detective Lt. Alan Borowski continues to possess an unmarked cruiser, government-issued firearm and other police equipment.

Borowski has been barred from coming to work since Sept. 18. He is also banned from working paid details.

Chief Jody Kasper has not disclosed when or if Borowksi will return to work, and has not shed any light on why he was placed on leave.

Department policy indicates an officer may be placed on leave if he or she is deemed to be "physically or psychologically unfit for duty" or "pending disposition of an internal investigation where it would be unwise or improper for the officer to continue on duty."

The policy says: "No statement regarding an Internal Affairs investigation will be made or issued to the media unless the charges have been sustained and action has been taken or initiated against the officer or employee. The Chief of Police is the only one to authorize the release of any statement."

In a public records request, The Republican asked Kasper to provide any written policies and procedures that would permit an officer relieved of duty to continue to possess city assets. She said there is no written policy for that, and that it was at her discretion.

Kasper wrote in an email: "As for a written policy on paid administrative leave, the police department does not maintain a policy that specifies whether or not an employee on leave shall retain possession of their firearm, a take home vehicle, or any other police equipment. Decisions regarding retention of department items are at the discretion of the Chief of Police."

Asked if Borowski still maintains possession of city assets while on leave, the chief wrote: "yes, he still has his department equipment."

The Northampton Police Department in 2002 was among the first in the state to obtain accreditation, a designation meant to signal adherence to best practices. Best practices include a requirement that a department have written policies and procedures.

The department remains accredited by Massachusetts Police Accreditation Program, for which Kasper is a commissioner and member of the board of directors.

Borowski joined the Northampton Police Department in 1998. He was promoted to sergeant in 2010, promoted to lieutenant three years later, and named detective lieutenant in April 2014.

According to the city's most recent annual payroll, Borowski is the second-highest-paid municipal employee. In the fiscal year that ended June 30, he earned $138,686.90, including overtime wages.

Detective Sgt. Victor Caputo has been named interim supervisor of the detective bureau in Borowski's absense.

The most recent instance when the department publicly disclosed that a high-ranking officer had been placed on paid administrative leave, prior to Borowski, was four years ago.

Capt. Scott Savino, an officer of nearly three decades, never returned to work following an investigation related to alleged theft of public funds.

Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan referred the probe to then-Hampden District Attorney Mark Mastroianni, who is now a federal judge. A civilian employee that Savino supervised -- who also lost her job -- received $18,000 "for unworked hours," Mastroianni wrote to then-Chief Russell Sienckiewicz.

Mastroianni concluded that the facts he found could support criminal charges, but recommended that the city reach an administrative agreement.

Savino retired from the department Dec. 13, 2013, according to a settlement the parties agreed to on the previous day. The woman he supervised resigned and agreed to pay the city $30,000.