EAST BRUNSWICK – The East Brunswick Police Department has announced a series of changes in personnel.
The East Brunswick Department of Public Safety promoted four of its officers and hired two new officers to fill vacancies left by two retired officers during a ceremony July 1 at the Cultural Arts Center.
Captain Russell MacArthur and Patrolman Sean Garrison retired while Captain Kevin Zebro, Captain Christopher Soke, Lieutenant Sean Goggins and Sergeant Sean Taulane were promoted to their respective positions. Patrolman Matthew Kole and Patrolman Matthew Plisak were sworn in.
MacArthur began his 25-year career with East Brunswick as a patrolman in the Department of Public Safety upon his graduation from the Middlesex County Police Academy in 1991, according to information provided by the police department.
In 1998, he was promoted to sergeant in the Patrol Division where he served as a squad supervisor.
In 1999, he was transferred to the newly created Office of Public Information where he assumed the responsibility of quasi-duty supervisor, dispatch supervisor and special police liaison.
In 2004, MacArthur was promoted to lieutenant after returning to the Patrol Division. During his tenure as lieutenant, he served as a watch commander in the Patrol Division, the Internal Affairs officer, assistant Administrative Division commander, deputy Operations Division commander and the Traffic Section commander.
In 2011, he was promoted to captain, where he served as a division commander of the Investigative Division and the Administrative Division.
Garrison began his 18-year career with East Brunswick after graduating from the Gloucester County Police Academy.
He served as a patrolman in the Patrol Division for seven years until his transfer to the Special Operations Division. While in the Special Operations Division, he served as a fatal accident reconstructionist, a radar instructor, a defensive driving instructor and organized the annual East Brunswick Township Bike Rodeo.
Garrison has received two Lifesaving Awards, three Driving While Intoxicated Awards for having 30 or more DWI arrests in a year, several Letters of Commendation and Unit Citations while serving in the Patrol and Special Operations Divisions.
He was also one of the first East Brunswick police officers to respond to Ground Zero in the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001.
Zebro is a 22-year veteran of the East Brunswick Police Department. He began his career in 1994 as a patrolman in the Patrol Division after graduating from the Somerset County Police Academy. He was assigned to the Patrol Division until 2001 when he was transferred to the Investigative Division.
In 2006, he was temporarily reassigned to the New Jersey State Police to conduct internet investigations involving child abuse along with computer forensic examinations. He became a member of the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Zebro was promoted to sergeant in August 2010 and worked as a detective sergeant in the Investigative Division.
In 2011, he was reassigned as a section commander in the Office of Professional Standards. He was in charge of Internal Affairs, Public Information, Special Projects/Events, Communications Center, Municipal Counterterrorism and various other assignments.
Zebro is a former member of the East Brunswick Police SWAT Team and SCUBA Team.
He has received several awards including a Lifesaving Award and numerous Letters of Commendation throughout his career.
Zebro has been assigned to the Administrative Division where he serves as the division commander.
Soke is a 26-year veteran of the East Brunswick Police Department, a second generation East Brunswick Police Officer. His father, John Soke, is a retired deputy chief who served the community for more than 25 years.
Upon graduation from the Middlesex County Police Academy in 1991, he was assigned to the Patrol Division. Along with his patrol service, Soke was also assigned to the department’s Investigative Division as a narcotics detective and later served in the Anti-Crime Unit and S.W.A.T. Team.
He was later assigned to the Special Operations Division where he served as an accident reconstructionist.
In June 2011, Soke was promoted to the rank of sergeant where he assumed the duties of assistant section commander of the Special Operations Division.
In February 2015, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant where he then assumed command of the Special Operations Division.
Soke has graduated from Penn State University’s Leadership and Command School as well as the FBI’s Leadership and Supervision School. During his career, he has earned numerous awards and commendations including Letters of Commendation and the Distinguished Service Award.
Soke continues his assignment in Special Operations where he serves as the division commander.
Goggins is a 20-year veteran of the East Brunswick Police Department. He was assigned to the Patrol Division upon his graduation from the New Jersey State Police Academy in Sea Girt with the 195th Municipal Class in May 1997.
In 2003, he was transferred to the Investigative Division where he was assigned to the Juvenile Bureau.
On Aug. 17, 2011, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant. Following his promotion, he was assigned to the Patrol Division where he served as a shift supervisor.
In June 2013, Goggins was transferred to the Administrative Division, where he served as the assistant Division commander until January 2016, when he was transferred back to Patrol Division as a shift supervisor.
He is a crisis/hostage negotiator for the East Brunswick Police SWAT Team.
Goggins has received several Letters of Commendation while serving in the Patrol and Investigative Divisions.
He is now assigned to the Office of the Chief where he commands the Office of Professional Standards.
Taulane completed his law enforcement training at the Gloucester County Police Academy in 1998. In March 1999, he began serving as a patrolman in the Patrol Section for the East Brunswick Police Department.
In August 2004, he was transferred to the Special Operations Division. He is trained in fatal accident re-construction and has been responsible for many traffic related functions.
Taulane attended the Maryland State Police Motorcycle School and has successfully completed the New York FBI SWAT School; he was assigned to the East Brunswick SWAT team for 12 years.
He was deployed to New Orleans in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Taulane was transferred to the Police Training Facility in 2011 and was the range master in charge of training for the department.
He is the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award, several Unit Citations and Letters of Commendation.
He is assigned to the Patrol Division where he serves as shift supervisor.
Kole is 26 years old and grew up in Manalapan, graduating from Manalapan High School in 2008.
He attained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Rutgers University in 2012. During his undergraduate studies, Kole worked as a community service officer with the Rutgers University Police Department.
Following graduation, Kole was employed by the Manasquan Police Department as a Class I police officer. He then completed his Class II Special Law Enforcement Officer training at the Monmouth County Police Academy in December 2013.
He was hired by the Oceanport Police Department in March 2014 where he was assigned as a patrol officer.
Plisak is 29 years old and grew up in Gibbstown, graduating from Paulsboro High School in 2004.
He attained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Rowan University in 2010.
In April of 2010, following his graduation from college, Plisak began working as a correctional officer for the Bureau of Prisons Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia. He completed his training as a correctional officer from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center located in Brunswick, Georgia, in June 2010.
He then pursued a career as a police officer and was hired by the Camden County Police Department in July 2013 where he completed the basic police training at the Camden County Police Academy in December 2013.
After completing field training, both new officers will be assigned to the Patrol Division.