TINTON FALLS — A new officer has joined the ranks of the Tinton Falls Police Department. During a Borough Council meeting on Sept. 20, Joey Fields II was sworn in as the newest officer on the force.
The ceremony was conducted by Police Chief Michael Delucia, who took command of the police department in February. For the oath of office, Fields was sworn in by his father and Borough Clerk Michelle Hutchinson.
Fields is the sixth officer to be hired by the Tinton Falls Police Department in 2022. Five new officers were hired in June following the promotion of several officers who are now serving as the department’s new command staff under Delucia.
With the hiring of Fields, the number of patrol officers in Tinton Falls will increase to 28, which is the maximum number permitted by a borough ordinance. The total number of police officers in the borough will reach the maximum permitted number of 43.
On the same evening Fields was sworn in, the members of the Borough Council introduced an ordinance that will, if adopted, increase the maximum number of permitted patrol officers from 28 to 32.
A public hearing on the ordinance has been scheduled for Oct. 11 and council members may adopt the ordinance that evening.
Speaking about Fields, Delucia said, “When I interviewed Joey, he said (he was) ready to get back home. He grew up right across the street from Tinton Falls and Red Bank. College athlete, college graduate, master’s degree. It was a no-brainer for us. He’s going to complete our police department now with 43 (officers).”
According to Delucia, as of Sept. 20, Fields had already been with the police department for three weeks and will spend 12 weeks with his field training officer before he is assigned to join a patrol squad.
“We welcome Joey. We are so happy for him and his family,” Delucia said.
The police chief thanked Mayor Vito Perillo for approving Fields’ appointment and Business Administrator Charles Terefenko and members of the Borough Council for their support.
“This is a great police department and we are going to keep getting better and better,” Delucia said.
In other business, council members appointed Steven Surman and Barbara Kulberg to serve on the Tinton Falls Environmental Commission.
Surman was appointed as a regular member of the commission and his term will end on Dec. 31, 2024. Kulberg was appointed as an alternate member of the commission and her term will end on Dec. 31, 2022. Both appointees are filling unexpired terms.