MARLBORO — Bruce E. Hall was sworn in as Marlboro’s new chief of police during the Township Council’s Jan. 22 meeting. Hall was promoted to his new position from the rank of captain.
Hall’s family members, friends and peers cheered and applauded as he became the head of the Marlboro Police Department. He succeeds Robert Holmes Sr., who retired as police chief at the end of 2008.
Hall joined the police department as a patrolman in 1974 and worked his way up through the ranks.
“He knows our town,” Mayor Jonathan Hornik said of Hall, who ranked No. 1 on his civil service test.
Hornik said when he asked Hall why he wanted to be the police chief, Hall replied, “I’ve always wanted to be chief of Marlboro Township.”
The mayor said Hall’s response showed perseverance and he said he is confident Hall will lead the police department into the future.
Hall told the News Transcript that he did not think it would take as long as it did to become Marlboro’s police chief, but said he was excited the time had come.
“Anything worth doing is worth waiting for,” Hall said.
The new chief has a bachelor’s degree of science in human services and criminal justice from Thomas Edison State College. Hall is also a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command Criminal Justice Studies. Along with two master’s degrees from Fairleigh Dickinson University in public administration and administrative science, Hall has also received specialized certificates from Fairleigh Dickinson University in school security and safety administration; global security and terrorism studies; administration science and emergency management administration.
Hall expressed his thanks to those present for their support and made a vow to his officers.
“You have my commitment to serve as your chief in an honorable and dignified manner,” he said.
The chief said his commitment will be toward the Marlboro community and said he wants open communication between the police department and residents. Hall said he will strive every day to earn the respect of his fellow officers and said they should seek to earn the respect of the community.
Also during the Jan. 22 council meeting, lieutenants Bart Lombardo and Douglas Van Note were promoted and sworn in as the newest captains in the police department.
Lombardo joined the Marlboro Police Department in 1985 and has served as a lieutenant since 2002. Hall introduced those present to Lombardo and praised the officer’s work. Hall said Lombardo has worked to keep Marlboro safe and said he stays abreast of ways to protect the township and its residents against potential acts of terrorism. Lombardo’s father served with the Irvington police in Essex County.
“He comes from a very honorable line,” Hall said of Lombardo.
Van Note began his career in Marlboro in 1975 as a communications operator. Since 1979 he has served the police department in every capacity.
“He has excelled at every stage,” Hall said of Van Note.
Van Note’s heart is in Marlboro’s crime prevention program, the chief said.
Hall credited Van Note for the success of Marlboro’s Police Explorers program, which he said has the highest percentage of Explorers continuing on to careers in law enforcement. Hall said the reason for that is because as young people they received the proper guidance under Van Note.
“He was and will remain the fiercest advocate of this town,” Hall said of Van Note.
Hornik said the two new captains have agreed to defer the salary increase they are owed upon their promotion to a date in the future. The captain’s salaries will be approximately $130,000 for Van Note and $128,000 for Lombardo.
Due to statutory requirements which state that Hall must make at least $1 more than the rank below his, Hall said his salary as chief will increase by $1 over what he was being paid as a captain. His salary as police chief will be $145,767.