The Hillsborough Township Committee promoted five police officers from the department to fill vacancies – one lieutenant and four sergeants. at Tuesday’s Township Committee meeting.
“There exist various vacancies within the department, and as a result of the vast experience base we have within the police department, we can promote these officers to fill those vacancies,” Mayor Shawn Lipani said in a press release on June 15.
A swearing-in and pin ceremony was held at a committee meeting on June 14.
Lt. Jeremy Cuomo has been working for the department since December 2001. He was initially appointed as a police officer and assigned to the patrol division. He was promoted to corporal in 2017 and then sergeant in 2019. In 2021, Cuomo was appointed to the Traffic Bureau in the Services Division. With Cuomo’s promotion to lieutenant, he will serve as services commander. Cuomo holds an associate’s degree in criminal justice.
Throughout Cuomo’s 20 years with the department, he has received many commendations, command citations and letters of appreciation for various jobs well-done, officials said.
In January 2017, he received a commendation for a job well done during an attempted suicide call. In February 2019, he received a command citation for great work on an attempted homicide investigation. In July 2020, he received another command citation for an outstanding job with an eluding case, according to the press release.
Sgt. Jason Beverett was appointed police officer in November 2001 and assigned to the patrol division from 2001 to 2003. In 2003, Beverett was assigned to the Services Division, Community Policing/Training Bureau, where he remained until moving back to the patrol division in 2011. From 2016 through 2020, Beverett served in the Traffic Bureau, Services Division. He was appointed as corporal in the patrol division in Jan. 2020 and administrative division corporal in the Services Division in 2021. With his promotion to sergeant, Beverett will continue to serve in the administrative division. Beverett holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and psychology, according to the press release.
Beverett received a command citation for hard work during Hurricane Ida and has received several letters of appreciation throughout his 20 years of service. Local organizations have thanked him for his support of various events and initiatives – GiGi’s Playhouse, the Hillsborough Social Services Department, Brownie Troop 60134, the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police for help with the New Jersey Special Olympics, Auten Road School, Watchung Police, and East Orange School for help with judging an annual Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM program).
Sgt. Christopher Engelhardt was hired as a police officer in Nov. 2004 and assigned to the patrol division, where he still serves. From 2008 through 2020, Engelhardt served in the K-9 Unit in the Services Division. He was promoted to corporal in the patrol division in April 2021, according to the press release.
Engelhardt, a dedicated member of the K-9 Unit for 12 years, made countless visits with K-9 companion Raider, Marco or Freddy at his side to schools, libraries, and events in Hillsborough and surrounding communities. In 2019, Engelhardt participated in the Tri-State Police & Fire K-9 Maritime Training. Engelhardt has received many letters of appreciation throughout his 17 years of service. Some notable letters include one in 2017 from Bernards Township Chief of Police for helping to locate a missing person with the K-9 Unit and another in 2020 from Men’s Golf Club for helping with a person having a heart attack, according to the press release.
Sgt. Jack Howard graduated from the police academy and was appointed as a police officer in February 2007. Howard served in the patrol division from 2007 to 2014. He served on the Somerset County Prosecutors Office (SCPO) Narcotic Task Force in 2013 and was assigned to the Investigative Division from 2014 to 2019. Howard was assigned to the patrol division in 2019 and was promoted to corporal in August 2020. He will continue to serve in the patrol division as sergeant. Howard holds a bachelor’s degree in justice studies and a master’s degree in administrative science.
In his 15 years with the Hillsborough Township Police Department (HTPD), Howard has received many awards and commendations, including a command citation for outstanding work for unlawful possession of a firearm investigation in 2019, a Top Cop Award for 2019, a commendation for good work in a domestic violence investigation in 2020, a commendation for good work during an animal cruelty investigation in 2021 and a command citation for a job well done during Hurricane Ida, according to the press release.
Sgt. Philip Wolff was hired in September 2014 and assigned to the patrol division. Wolff was promoted to corporal in 2021 and will remain in the patrol division with his promotion to sergeant.
In his nearly eight years with the department, Wolff has received many recognitions, including a commendation for good work during a DWI stop and a commendation for exemplary work researching outer carriers for police officers in 2020. Wolff received a Top Cop Award for 2020. He also received a Medal of Merit and command citation for hard work during Hurricane Ida and commendations for good work in a domestic violence investigation and a job well done in a car burglary investigation in 2021, according to the press release.
“It is with honor that we elevate these dedicated officers to the positions of sergeant and lieutenant,” Lipani said.
All of the officers were joined by their families, Chief of Police Mike McMahon, committee members and liaisons to Public Safety Deputy Mayor Janine Erickson and Committeeman Doug Tomson for the ceremony.