The Bayonne Police Department swore in eight new officers at a City Hall ceremony inside council chambers last week, which Chief Robert Geisler called “the best job in the world.”
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
During the June 13th swearing in, Geisler said the new officers have “a front-row seat to life” and advised them “to treat others as you would want to be treated.”
Public Safety Director Robert Kubert pointed out that their police careers would bring them into contact with thousands of people, also thanking Mayor Jimmy Davis and the city council for supporting the Police and Fire Departments needs for personnel and equipment.
Councilman-at-Large Loyad Booker, a retired police officer, noted that the new officers “worked hard to get here, noting that they passed competitive civil service exams and underwent 21 weeks of training.
Th new police officers are Alan Velasco, Ashleigh Newman, Richard Bukowski, Brian Cotter, Octavio Cordova, Christopher Rocheny, Aboubacar Diawara, and Alex Czerwienski.
Newman, Bukowski, Cotter, Diawara, and Czerwienski are all graduates of Bayonne High School, while Diawara has law enforcement experience: he served as a Hudson County corrections officer for four years prior to entering the police academy.
At the ceremony, the entrance procession was led by the Bayonne Police Honor Guard.
The Bayonne Police Pipes and Drums played The Minstrel Boy, Scotland the Brave, and Amazing Grace.
Rev. John Fencik, of St. Mary’s Orthodox Church, offered the invocation and the benediction. City Clerk Madelene Medina administered the oath of office to the new police officers.