OLD BRIDGE – Five officers have moved up the ranks within the Old Bridge Police Department (OBPD).
Mayor Owen Henry and Police Chief William Volkert introduced the promoted officers at a Township Council meeting in July.
“Each of these officers has committed to serving the public and providing safety to the community to ensure a better quality of life,” the mayor said.
Pete LoPresti was promoted to captain, Ronald Nitto and Thomas Geant were promoted to lieutenant, and Robert Kurzydlowski and Michael Krzywdzinski were promoted to sergeant.
All the officers have received many accolades, commendations, and awards throughout their careers.
LoPresti, who is a veteran of the U.S. Navy, began his career as a patrol officer with the OBPD in October 1993. He is a graduate of the Middlesex County Police Academy. In 1996, he was transferred to the detective bureau and assigned to narcotics where he served in a supervisory role for eight years. He had served as a lieutenant and bureau commander of the detective bureau for one year before his promotion to captain.
During his career, LoPresti has been assigned to various outside law enforcement agencies including the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Agency, U.S. Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New Jersey State Police Drug Trafficking Unit and the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Task Force. He served as an instructor for the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office top gun program training undercover officers throughout the state.
LoPresti has also served as a delegate for the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) Local 127 union and treasurer for the Fraternal Order of Police union.
Nitto, who has lived in the township since he was five years old, began his career as a patrol officer with the OBPD in December 1994. He received his associate’s degree in criminal justice from Middlesex County College in Edison and attended New Jersey City University for continuing education. He served in the patrol division through November 2006 and transferred to the detective bureau after his promotion to sergeant in October 2011. In March 2019, he was appointed as acting lieutenant.
Nitto has served an integral part of PBA 127 as president and later as state delegate. He currently serves as president of the Superior Officers Association.
Geant began his career as a patrol officer with the OBPD in May 1991. Prior to joining OBPD, he served as an officer with the Conrail Police Department. In September 2001, Geant was assigned as a school resource officer. In February 2001, he served in the special operations bureau. In November 2011, he served in the department’s traffic and safety bureau and in January 2012, he was promoted to rank of sergeant. As lieutenant, Geant will return to the patrol bureau.
Kurzydlowski began his career as a patrol officer with the OBPD in December 1997. Prior to joining OBPD, he served as a New Jersey State Corrections officer. In October 2001, her served as a school resource officer. Throughout the years, students and staff came to know him as “Officer K.”
Kurzydlowski coordinated the juvenile station house adjustment program and served as instructor of the department’s youth academy and citizen’s police academy.
In September 2011, he was assigned as a detective and continued his position as a school resource officer. In March 2019, he was appointed acting sergeant.
Krzywdzinski began his career as a patrol officer with the OBPD in January 2004. He followed the path of a family background in law enforcement – father, brother and father-in-law – all now retired from the public safety sector. Prior to joining OBPD, he served as an officer with the Piscataway Police Department.
Krzywdzinski earned a bachelor’s degree from The College of New Jersey. He is a certified drug recognition expert, certified as a fatal accident investigator, he serves as a field training officer and is certified as a 911 emergency medical dispatcher.
He has served as an executive board member of PBA 127 for the past eight years and has served as the union’s president for the past three years.