By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
As his family and friends watched, Delio Coutinho was sworn into the Montgomery Township Police Department as its newest officer last week.
Several Montgomery Township police officers stood along the walls in the courtroom to watch as Municipal Attorney Kris Hadinger swore in Coutinho at the July 20 Township Committee meeting.
Coutinho, who is 25 years old, was born in Newark and raised in Colonia, Montgomery Township police Lt. James Gill said.
Coutinho, who now lives in Linden, most recently worked for the New Jersey State Park Police and was assigned to Washington Crossing State Park.
Asked why he wants to become a police officer, Coutinho replied that “every day is different.”
“It’s not the same repetition and that’s what kind of makes it fun. It makes your time worthwhile,” he asid.
“On top of that, you help people and you see the immediate purpose and impact on people’s lives,” Coutinho said.
Coutinho will attend the John H. Stamler Police Academy in Scotch Plains to receive training to become a police officer. He expects to graduate in December and will start work after graduation.
