WEST WINDSOR: Five police officers promoted, one hired

By Charley Falkenburg, Staff Writer
   WEST WINDSOR — Beaming spouses cheered, comrades dealt out a generous supply of fist bumps and friends lined the walls, eager to celebrate their colleagues’ accomplishments.
   Not a spare seat could be found Tuesday as people from all over the county crammed inside town hall to see five West Windsor police officers move up a rank and the induction of one new recruit.
   ”The attendance tonight is a testament to the popularity of the guys we’re promoting today,” said Police Chief Joseph Pica, before introducing each officer.
   Sgt. Patrick O’Brien moved up to a lieutenant and Officer Danny Mohr, Officer Brian Geraghty, Detective Robert Fow and Detective MaryLouise Dranchak were promoted to sergeants. Nicholas Barber of Hamilton was welcomed aboard as West Windsor’s newest patrolman.
   The promotions and new hire are a result of the retirements of five officers: Lt. William Bastedo, Sgt. Brian Gallant, Sgt. Richard Van Pelt, Sgt. Thomas Tarr and Officer Peter Hanna. All retirees had spent more than 20 years with the force.
   Lt. O’Brien of Princeton Junction was sworn in first with Jill, his wife of 17 years, and his children by his side. Lt. O’Brien has been with the police force for about 18 years and spent the last six as a sergeant. Prior, he served in the detective’s bureau and has worked in several areas within the department.
   Sgt. Dranchak’s promotion makes her West Windsor’s first female sergeant. Over her 17-year career with West Windsor, Sgt. Dranchak of Cream Ridge has dedicated much of her time as a detective specializing in juvenile cases and working in the traffic unit. She will be replacing her husband, Sgt. Tarr, as the traffic sergeant.
   Like Lt. O’Brien, Sgt. Geraghty lives in town and has been with the West Windsor police for about 18 years. He has worked in drug enforcement and co-founded and served as West Windsor’s Police Honor Guard for 10 years.
   Chief Pica attributed Sgt. Geraghty as the driving force behind their current patrol schedule and commended his countless volunteer hours to law enforcement and community events. Now promoted, he will serve as the patrol sergeant on the night shift.
   After serving in the Army for eight years, Sgt. Fow of Lumberton joined the West Windsor police in 1995. He became detective three years ago and has been handling both juvenile and adult cases. He has also spent time working with the West Windsor-Plainsboro School District to help strengthen its safety and security practices.
   Chief Pica described Sgt. Mohr as a “hard worker” who often went out of his way to get additional training every year to better himself throughout his 14-year career with the force. Like Sgt. Dranchak, he spent a lot of time in the traffic unit and was the one responsible for training all the crossing guards.
   Officer Barber, who is a student at Rider University, will be officially joining the force full-time in mid-February once he graduates from the Mercer County Police Academy.
   After Township Clerk Sharon Young conducted all the oaths of office, the Township Council took the opportunity to praise the six officers and their hard-earned achievement.
   ”It’s not easy to graduate from Chief Pica’s academy, let alone get his promotion,” said Councilman Kamal Khanna, eliciting laughter. “This force is one of the best in New Jersey.”
   Council President George Borek attributed the force’s efficacy to former police chief Frank Cox, who was sitting in the front row during the ceremony.
   ”Chief Cox passed the baton to Chief Pica and the men and women here will one day carry that baton,” he predicted. Mayor Shing Fu-Hsueh noted how during the recent hurricane, West Windsor police officers were able to help folks not only in their own town, but those impacted in South Jersey.
   ”Our police officers are beneficial not only to the residents of West Windsor, but throughout the whole state,” said Mayor Hsueh. “I want to thank the whole police force for a job well done.”