Sayreville strengthens its police force

SAYREVILLE – Seven auxiliary officers and two patrolmen have joined the Sayreville Police Department, while three current officers have received promotions.

At a Borough Council meeting on Aug. 20, Andre Coffee, Kevin Gonzalez, Eric Kerkes, Johnathan Madera, Hector Martinez, Anabelle Rodriguez and Jacqueline Rodriguez were sworn in as auxiliary officers. Mark DeGuzman and Cheyenne Grant were sworn in as police officers. Angela Moat was sworn in as a police sergeant, Thomas Pavlik was sworn in as a lieutenant and Thomas Barbieri was sworn in as a captain for the department.

“I think it’s a celebration this evening,” Police Chief John Zebrowski said. “I can’t think of a better opportunity to bring so many people to introduce you [the residents] to tonight: our newest auxiliary officers, our newest police officers and our most promoted individuals.

“You see [the auxiliaries] all the time, whether they’re at the parks for our carnivals, for our picnics, for other types of events. These are volunteers,” he continued. “These are men and women [who] spend a great deal of time learning their trade, getting trained, a lot of discipline, a lot of time away from their parents, and they do it all as volunteers for our community. So, they should be applauded for that effort and these new seven officers should be applauded for the fact that they want to stand up and be part of this community, front and center.

“I’d also like the opportunity for you to meet our newest police officers, recent graduates from the Cape May Police Academy. I’d like to call up new sergeant, Sgt. Angela Moat, new lieutenant Thomas Pavlik and the newest member of our command staff, Capt. Thomas Barbieri.

In other business, council members passed resolutions appointing Anthony Jackowski and Fred Wistuba as provisional supervisors in the Department of Public Works, effective Aug. 21, and appointing Jason Summerer to the title of water repairer 1 in the Water and Sewer Department, effective Aug. 21.

The council also passed resolutions authorizing the purchase of seven 2019 Police Interceptors from Winner Ford in an amount not to exceed $196,379, two 2018 Police Interceptors Sedans from Winner Ford in an amount not to exceed $51,748, turnout gear from Skylands Area Fire Equipment & Training, LLC in an amount not to exceed $34,959, and one Toro Sand Pro machine from Storr Tractor in an amount not to exceed $29,998.