SOUTH BRUNSWICK — Four local police officers were promoted to the rank of sergeant this month after several retirements had left a void in the South Brunswick Police Department.
Sgts. John Klemas, Kenneth Drost, Dale Owens and James Ryan were sworn in to their new positions at an Oct. 16 ceremony in the township municipal building.
The promoted officers were selected after completing a two-year selection process that involved a written test, oral board exam and service review.
“These officers have distinguished themselves by their work effort and commitment to our community,” Chief Raymond J. Hayducka said. “Our commitment remains to provide the highest level of service to our community, and these officers will continue that mission.”
The promotions were necessary to fill voids left in the department due to retirements this year. Four sergeants retired in 2009 — Jeff Karpisak, Bill Grischuk, Mike Kushwarra and Kevin O’Brien.
Klemas was promoted to sergeant after serving as detective. He has been with the SBPD for 21 years and has served in both the patrol and investigative divisions. He served as a detective with investigations for 14 years and received several awards for his work in the division. He also served as a field-training officer.
Klemas resides in town with his wife, Karen, and their three children, and has served as a baseball coach for youth sports in town.
Drost was promoted to sergeant from his position as patrolman first class. He has served in law enforcement for 21 years and has been with the SBPD since 1990. Prior to SBPD, he served with the New Jersey State Police Marine Bureau. He has served in the community policing, patrol and traffic divisions, and has received several awards for his work with the community.
Drost is a drummer for the South Brunswick Police Honor Guard and a drummer for the Middlesex County Police and Fire Pipes and Drums Corps. He resides in South Brunswick with his wife, Charlene, and their two children, and serves as a coach for youth football and baseball in the town. He has a degree in biology from Hofstra University.
Owens was promoted to sergeant from his position as patrolman first class. He has served in law enforcement for 22 years and joined the SBPD in 1990. He has served in the patrol and traffic divisions and is a member of the SBPD Honor Guard and the county’s Police and Fire Pipes and Drums Corps.
Prior to joining the township’s department, Owens worked for the Boynton Beach Police Department and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Department in Florida, where he worked as a deputy sheriff and in the traffic homicide office. He has received extensive training in traffic investigation and has earned two lifesaving medals. He also served in the U.S. Air Force.
Owens resides in Allentown with his wife, Pam, and their two children.
Ryan was promoted to sergeant while serving as a detective, a rank he has held for the past eight years. He has served in law enforcement for 16 years, and in 1995 he joined the SBPD, where he has served in both the patrol and investigative divisions. He has received several awards for his work with the investigative division.
Ryan is a member of the South Brunswick Emergency Response Team and the Middlesex County Special Operations Team as a hostage negotiator. He resides in South Brunswick with his wife, Kim, and their four children, and has served as a coach for basketball and soccer programs in the township. He earned a master’s degree in criminal justice from New Jersey City University and is currently an adjunct professor at Middlesex County College.
The chief thanked the officers’ families who have supported their loved ones through the good and bad.
“You have earned this promotion as much as your loved ones,” Hayducka said to the families, “so I am congratulating you also.”
The chief told the officers that they are being entrusted with “tremendous responsibility.”
“You are going to serve with honor and integrity,” Hayducka told the new sergeants. “I expect a lot out of you.”
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