JACKSON – Officer Sean Greenberger of the Jackson Police Department was promoted to the rank of sergeant during the Dec. 17 meeting of the Township Council.
The municipal clerk administered the oath of office to Greenberger after his father, retired Jackson Police Officer George Greenberger, pinned his son’s new badge on his uniform.
Police Chief Matthew Kunz said Sean Greenberger “was inspired to seek a career in law enforcement by his father, who is a retired member of the Jackson Police Department and a prior Officer of the Year recipient.”
“It was my privilege to work with (George Greenberger) in the early days of my career. … Officer Greenberger was an exceptional road officer who had an uncanny knack for sniffing out home burglaries. He knew the town, he knew his area, he knew what was out of place and he was always on it, or as they say, switched on,” Kunz said.
Sean Greenberger, the new sergeant, is a 1999 graduate of Jackson Memorial High School. He was hired by the Jackson Police Department in 2000.
He graduated from the Ocean County Police Academy and received the firearms award for a perfect qualifying score. Greenberger has received numerous awards during his career, including the Good Conduct Ribbon, Command Citation, Meritorious Duty Ribbon and two Unit Citations, according to police department administrators.
Greenberger received a Life Saving Award from the Monmouth-Ocean County Intelligence Bureau in 2017 for his actions in responding to a serious motor vehicle crash. He was nominated for Jackson’s Officer of the Year award in 2015.
Greenberger has served as a patrol officer, a physical training instructor and a field training officer for new officers. He has also served on the police department’s bicycle patrol.
He is a seven-time rider with the Police Unity Tour, riding his bicycle from New Jersey to Washington, D.C., during Police Week to honor police officers who gave their life in the line of duty and to raise money for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.
Councilman Andrew Kern noted that the day began with the solemn funeral of a police officer who was killed in the line of duty in Jersey City and ended with the promotion of one of the Jackson Police Department’s finest officers.
“On and off duty, Sgt. Greenberger has set an example we should all strive to achieve. He is an amazing role model for our newer officers and a wonderful representative to the citizens of our township,” Kern said.
Police administrators said Greenberger will become the supervisor of a patrol squad.
Capt. Steven Laskiewicz said, “The (police department) would like to thank the Township Council and administration for their support of the agency as it works to meet the needs of the growing population in this 100-square-mile township.
“This promotion of Sgt. Greenberger and recent hires are allowing for the transfer of Sgt. Mitch Cowit, who spent nearly 20 years in the Detective Bureau before being promoted, to return along with two additional officers to re-establish the evening shift in the Detective Bureau and to create an enforcement unit to proactively address narcotics and other issues in the township,” Laskiewicz said.