The North Bergen Police Department now has 154 officers after a swearing in and promotion ceremony yesterday afternoon that included five promotions, along with the swearing in of 10 new officers and eight special officers.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“It is an honor to swear in our class of officers and detectives. I look forward to continuing to keep our community safe with a force that is properly trained, vigilant, and passionate about our community,” Police Chief Peter Fasilis said in a statement.
He indicated that a decade ago, the department had 107 officers and the entire township has made a concerted effort to make improvements: They now have 134 regular officers and 17 special police officers.
“100 years ago, the North Bergen Police Department was established by an ordinance by Mayor [Charles] Morris as I believe it was at the time. Give it up for the North Bergen Police Department,” Fasilis added to applause from the audience.
Over the course of the ceremony, Lt. Victor Quiero was promoted to captain, Sgt. Kaylan Dowd was promoted to lieutenant, and Officer Jason Castillo was promoted to sergeant.
Also getting promoted were Officers William Brown and Michael Rivetti, who earned the distinction of detective.
Additionally, David Corbisiero Jr., Jose Figueroa, Thomas Lombardi, Nicholas Manocchio, Yoseline Marquez, David Ramirez, Gabrielle Rich, Majd Siyam, Rasheed Siyam, and Genesis Yepez became North Bergen police officers.
And finally, Christian Angulo, Angel Aparicio, Miguel Cardenas, Jordy DiLone, Andres Faife, Bryan Heredia, Michael Santini, Kevin Zambrano are new class II special law enforcement officers.
Throughout the ceremony, officials credited U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez (D-8) for making beefing up the department possible through a $1.25 million U.S. Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant announced last month.
“I thank the North Bergen Board of Commissioners for the work that they’ve done, Mayor [Nick] Sacco for his leadership over his years here and what he’s been able to accomplish to grow this police force to make North Bergen one of the safest neighborhoods in the state and the country and I’m glad I could just do my small role as your federal representative to bring dollars home to further what you’re already doing here,” the congressman said.
Sacco, also the state senator of the 32nd Legislative District, recalled that when he first became mayor in 1985, there were only 79 police officers and two operating cop cars, therefore most officers had to take the bus to work.
“This means North Bergen becomes a safer city. Right now, it’s one of the safest cities in the nation: The safest in Hudson County, one of the top in the State of New Jersey – I think we’re 5th or 6th for cities our size – but this will make us even safer and a better place to live,” Sacco told HCV.
“We are proud of our young men and women who have made the decision to dedicate their lives to this honorable profession. Our neighborhoods are safer today because of our great police force and it is an honor to swear them in,” he added today.
Along with Public Safety Commissioner Allen Pascual, Sacco presided over the ceremony hosted at the recreation center.
“We honor our officers who put their lives on the line to keep our town safe. It was a special day for NBPD and we celebrate the hard work that our officers have put in to be worthy of taking their oaths before their friends, family and government,” Pascual stated.
Township Commissioners Anthony Vainieri, Hugo Cabrera, and Claudia Rodriguez, along with Hudson County Commissioner Bob Baselice (D-8) were also in attendance for the event, as were members of the New York and Guttenberg Police Departments, as well as New York State Police.
