By Nick Norlen, Staff Writer
There’s a new Federico on the force in Princeton Borough.
”Yes, you heard it correctly — it is Federico,” Lt. Sharon Papp said during the Feb. 12 swearing-in ceremony for the borough’s newest patrolman, Officer Daniel Federico. “Yes, it’s the same last name as our police chief. But, no, he’s not the chief’s son.”
Officer Federico — Chief Anthony Federico’s second cousin — was chosen after passing written and physical tests and undergoing several interviews with the mayor and council, borough administration and police officials, according to Lt. Papp.
It was only then that he went through the Cape May Police Academy, eventually graduating second in his class.
But the 24-year-old Ewing Township resident is not new to the borough.
Before going to the academy, Officer Federico worked for both parking enforcement and as a dispatcher for the department.
His father grew up in town, and his grandmother still lives here, he said Monday.
”It definitely helps,” he said, referring to his familiarity with the town he now wants to get to know more. “I think doing the parking enforcement and also the dispatching gave me a lot of insight into how things go in town and also in the department. I’m just excited and happy to be able to work here.”
Though Officer Federico is only a distant relative to the chief, law enforcement does run in his family, he said.
”It’s always been something that I wanted to do,” he said of becoming a police officer. “My uncle was a detective in Trenton, and I’ve always been pretty close to him, so I think that had an influence on it.”
Officer Federico said, for him, the appeal of a career in law enforcement is the chance to work with the community and the diversity of the work.
”It changes every day,” he said. “You never know what you’re going to get into when you come into your shift in the morning or at night. There’s always that excitement.”
And working in Princeton Borough was definitely his goal, he said.
”There’s everything in Princeton,” he said. “It’s a melting pot. You have all different kinds of people. And it’s a fun place to be.”
For now, Officer Federico is taking part in the department’s field training program, in which he’ll ride along with a supervising officer.
Lt. Papp said she expects Officer Federico to be a fine addition to the borough’s ranks.
”He’s got a great work ethic,” she said. “He’s an asset to not only the police department but also to the community.”
Officer Federico said he’s eager to get to know more residents than he’s already met.
”Right now I just kind of want to feel things out about how the department works, just in terms of the different procedures,” he said. “I definitely want to get out into the community and get to know more of the people.”
As for his fellow officers, they’re already used to his last name.
”They know me, since I’ve been around for a while,” he said.
