This morning, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop and Police Chief Michael Kelly held a promotion ceremony for 75 officers: 35 sergeants, 20 lieutenants, and 20 captains.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
“It has been a truly challenging environment for the Jersey City Police Department. Less than a year ago we saw a mass shooting hate crime here in Jersey City. We saw a response unparalleled,” Fulop said, referencing the December 10th domestic terrorism incident that claimed four innocent lives.
The mayor also said that that Jersey City has relied on the police department to help initially set up their COVID-19 public testing sites and staff them.
“Through all that, you still saw crime rates continue to decline … As a city, we have had to overcome unprecedented obstacles this past year, and our officers never wavered in their commitment to keeping the community safe,” Fulop continued.
“We have the best police department in the state, bar none, and I have no doubt this new leadership will continue to further our progress as a city.”
Since Fulop took office in July 2013, his administration has hired about 500 police officers, where over 70 percent represent minority populations to better reflect the city’s diverse population. The JCPD now has over 900 active officers.
To that end, among the new Sergeants, 13 are Hispanic, two are Arabic, and two are African American.
“Law enforcement is ever-evolving, and it takes strong leadership throughout the department to achieve efficient and effective operations,” added Public Safety Director James Shea.
“These newly promoted ranks have countless years of experience between them, and I know that their training and experience will further our goals of decreasing crime and increasing public safety.”
Sgt. Majorie Jordan, who was recognized as a hero for running towards gun fire to save her partner on December 10th, was among those promoted to lieutenant today.
Captain Patrick Sullivan was the Master of Ceremonies and called out the names of the officers while Kelly handed out medals signifying their respective promotions.
Other officials present were Police Director Tawana Moody, Chief Municipal Prosecutor Jake Hudnut, Council President Joyce Waterman, Councilman-at-Large Daniel Rivera, Ward B Council Woman Mira Prinz-Arey, and Freeholder Anthony Romano (D-5) – among many others.
Those promoted are as follows:
Sergeant
Salvatore Sellitto
Julio Galinda
Jose Lopez
Steven Furch
Christopher Heger
Steven Vilas
Juan Velasquez
Gregory Wojtowicz
Adalberto Valladares
Brian McGovern
Joemy Fernandez
Norberto Aviles
Keith Keoghan
Andrew LaBruno
Eddie Fernandez
Vincent Alberto
Robert Dunn
James Wilde
Michael Meade
Gary Griffin, Jr.
Omar Adorno
Dane Coleman
Alberto Vasquez
Osama Badawi
Michael Stise
Christian Ona
Matthew Scalcione
Michael Galvez
Anthony Moschella, Jr.
Joziph Solimon
Maria Cortes
Miguel Rivera
Michael Szymanski, Jr.
William Braker
Ismael Cortes
Lieutenant
Vincent Costanza
Israel Nieves
Alexander Rivera
William Jackson, Jr.
Martin Perez
Jonathan Thomson
Terrence Moran
Michael Scarpa
Brenda Burroughs
Thomas Donnelly
Craig Keating
Richard Romanowksi
David Calton
Robert Quish
Victor Alsina
Clifford Crolius
Marjorie Jordan
Christian Howlett
Martin Murray, Sr.
Mark Minervini
Captain
Kelly Chesler
Franciso Williams
Lawrence Quish
William Olszewski
Brian Davis
Timothy O’Brien
Joseph Olszewski
Scott Schenne
Iris Cruz
Pawel Wojtowicz
Shaun Peterson
Brian Cahill
Mark Conroy
Joseph Dumanski
Robert Kearns
Patricia Radziewicz
Kevin Kot
Ian Gallagher
Marc Gigante
Vincent Cook
