The North Bergen Police Department promoted two special police officers and swore in five new ones at a Township Hall ceremony last week.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“As these brave men and women take their oaths, we are reminded of the great responsibility that comes with serving and protecting our residents,” state Senator (D-32)/North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco said in a statement.
“We are proud to welcome them to our police force and look forward to their continued service to our community.”
Ali Jaloudi was one of two individuals promoted from Special Law Enforcement Officers II (SLEO II) to full-time police officers. Jaloudi was hired as a Class 2 Police Officer in December 2019 and graduated from the Passaic County Police Academy in August 2020.
He is a member of the NBPD Honor Guard and has worked patrol for approximately two years and is currently assigned as a school resource officer.
Gerardo Andres Guzman, a life-long North Bergen resident, is an active Military Police Soldier in the NJ Army National Guard, which he has been serving for four years.
He was deployed for six months to Washington D.C. for the storming of the Capitol building on January 6, 2021 and was honored with the task of being on the quick response force for Vice President Kamala Harris during the 59th presidential inauguration.
Hired as SLEO II for the NBPD in December 2019, he graduated Passaic County Police Academy in August 2020.
“I have no doubt that these officers will serve our community with honor, integrity, and compassion. I have full confidence that they will uphold the highest standards of ethics and responsibility as they serve and protect North Bergen,” added Public Safety Commissioner Allen Pascual.
The five additional individuals were sworn in as SLEO II are as follows:
Fayez Awawdeh, a lifelong resident of North Bergen, earned a bachelor’s degree in health and business administration from Berkeley College and was on the honor roll class of 2023 and the President’s List of 2023 for outstanding grades and GPA.
Awawdeh worked in the health care field for about six years, including at a doctor’s office and his current position at a hospital helping with their Covid-19 unit during the pandemic.
Steve Garcia, born in Secaucus, studied at Rutgers University in Newark. Garcia worked at North Bergen DPW prior to his appointment to NBPD.
Additionally, Thomas Lombardi, a life-long resident of North Bergen, graduated from North Bergen High School in 2017. Lombardi attended William Paterson University.
David Ramirez graduated from North Bergen High School in 2007 and received an associate degree in liberal arts in 2013 from Bergen Community College.
He received a bachelor’s in psychology with a minor in criminal justice from Rutgers University in 2017. He later gained interest in pursuing law enforcement during an internship in Northern State Prison.
Finally, Genesis Yepez is a life-long resident of North Bergen and graduated from North Bergen High School in 2018.
Yepez attended Felician University and New Jersey City University. She has been employed as a North Bergen police dispatcher since January 2022.
