Heading into the summer months, the Hillsborough Township Police Department bolstered its roster with the recent addition of two new police officers.
During the committee meeting last Tuesday, the governing body voted to approve the hiring of Officers Patrick Farrell and Jacob Lawrence.
The new hires were flanked by friends and family as they were formally sworn in by Mayor Gloria McCauley. Committeemen and Liaisons to Public Safety Greg Burchette and Carl Suraci, as well as Police Chief Darren Powell, were also on hand to mark the occasion.
Last March, Powell said the Hillsborough Township Police Department has an authorized strength of 52 officers. These latest hires, according to Commiteeman Greg Burchette, fills gaps in the department’s roster and were necessary to keep the township well patrolled.
“There exists various vacancies within the department and after a thorough search and interview process of very capable top candidates we are able to hire these officers to fill those vacancies,” Burchette, the committee’s liaison to public safety, said.
According to officials, Ferrell is a 27-year-old former member of the Camden County Police Department. He completed his training at the Camden County Police Academy in September 2015.
Lawrence, 24, had been working as a part-time police officer with the Borough of Lakehurst before joining the Hillsborough force. He completed his training at the Ocean County Police Academy last July.