WOODBRIDGE – Five new police officers have joined the ranks of the Woodbridge Township Police Department (WPD).
Patrick McGeehan, 23, is a lifelong resident of Colonia. He graduated from Colonia High School in 2010. Afterward, he attended Stockton University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice. He was previously employed by Weldon Concrete in Westfield.
Adam Kazawic, 23, is a resident of Fords. He is a 2011 graduate of Bishop Ahr High School in Edison. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Kean University. Prior to becoming a Woodbridge police officer, he was a mechanic for Garry’s Precision Automotive Repair in Fords.
Justin Nerney, 27, is a resident of Woodridge. He is a 2006 graduate of Woodbridge High School. He has earned more than 80 college credits from Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island and is close to securing his bachelor’s degree. He previously worked as a service advisor at Richard Lucas Chevrolet in Avenel.
Jeffrey Schott, 24, is a resident of Colonia. He graduated from Colonia High School in 2009. Prior to becoming an officer, Schott worked for the Woodbridge Police Department as a 911 telecommunications operator. He was also an EMT with various first aid squads within the township.
Jake Fasano, 23, is a resident of Woodbridge and a 2011 graduate of Woodbridge High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University where he majored in psychology. Prior to joining the WPD, Fasano served as a Woodbridge auxiliary police officer.
The officers completed the state-mandated six-month police training program at the Monmouth County Police Training Academy and will immediately take up assignments in the Radio Patrol Division, according to a statement prepared by the Mayor’s Office of Communication.
The appointments were approved after the recruits successfully completed an extensive testing and eligibility process overseen by the New Jersey Department of Personnel, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and the Woodbridge Police Department, the statement said.
“The public safety mission of the WPD is our most important priority. As a result of our commitment to public safety, combined with the increased assignment of uniformed officers to street patrol, the WPD continues to maintain police ranks at maximum staffing levels – 198 sworn officers – to effectively protect public safety,” Mayor John E. McCormac said.