Woodbridge Police Department announces appointment of five to officers to patrol ranks. (l-r) Police Officer Nicholas James Errico: Police Officer Christopher Rendeiro Esteves: Police Officer Joseph William Russyk: Police Officer Michael Joseph Hart: Police Officer Matthew Edward Dougherty. Mayor John E. McCormac has announced the appointment of five new police officers to the ranks of the Woodbridge Township Police Department (WPD). The officers completed the state-mandated six-month police training program at the Monmouth County Police Training Academy and will immediately take up patrol assignments on the streets of Woodbridge Township. The appointments were approved after the recruits successfully completed an extensive testing and eligibility process overseen by the New Jersey Department of Personnel, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, and the Woodbridge Police Department.
“I am pleased to announce the appointment of five new police officers to the ranks of the Woodbridge Township Police Department,” Mayor McCormac said. “The public safety mission of the Woodbridge Police Department is our most important priority. As a result of our commitment to public safety, combined with the increased assignment of uniformed officers to street patrol, the Woodbridge Police Department continues to maintain police ranks at maximum staffing levels with 195 enlisted officers at work effectively protecting public safety.”
Joining Mayor McCormac to announce the appointment of the new police officers were Police Director Robert Hubner, Deputy Police Director Joseph Nisky, Captain Roy Hoppock, Municipal Clerk John Mitch, Councilwomen Debbie Meehan and Lizbeth DeJesus, Councilman Cory Spillar, members of the WPD command staff and ranking officers, patrol officers, family and friends.
The five WPD patrol officers taking the Oath of Office are:
Police Officer Nicholas James Errico: Officer Errico, 25, resides in Woodbridge Proper. Officer Errico is a 2008 graduate of Edison High School and a 2012 graduate of York College of Pennsylvania, having earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a minor in public relations. Officer Errico previously worked for Universal Protection Services where he rose from the rank of security guard to become the assistant director of security at the Menlo Park Mall. Officer Errico graduated from the Monmouth County Police Training Academy upon completion of the requisite sixmonth New Jersey Police Training Commission police officer training course. Officer Errico is assigned to the Radio Patrol Division.
Police Officer Christopher Rendeiro Esteves: Officer Esteves, 28, resides in the Avenel section of Woodbridge Township. Officer Esteves attended both Seton Hall and Kean Universities, earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 2009. Officer Esteves comes to the Woodbridge Police Department from the New Jersey Department of Corrections, where he was employed as a senior corrections officer at East Jersey State Prison. Officer Esteves previously attended the New Jersey Department Corrections Officer Training Academy in Sea Girt and graduated from the Monmouth County Police Training Academy upon completion of the requisite six-month New Jersey Police Training Commission police officer training course. Officer Esteves is assigned to the Radio Patrol Division.
Police Officer Joseph William Russyk: Officer Russyk, 28, is a life-long resident of the Iselin section of Woodbridge Township. Officer Russyk is a 2005 graduate of John F. Kennedy High School and a 2009 graduate of Rutgers University with bachelor’s degrees in both political science and economics. Officer Russyk previously worked at Nordstrom where he started as a stock associate and rose to the position of assistant logistics manager. Officer Russyk graduated from the Monmouth County Police Training Academy upon completion of the requisite six-month New Jersey Police Training Commission police officer training course. Officer Russyk is assigned to the Radio Patrol Division.
Police Officer Michael Joseph Hart: Officer Hart, 24, is a lifelong resident of the Iselin section of Woodbridge Township. Officer Hart is a 2009 graduate of John F. Kennedy High School and a 2013 graduate of Monmouth University with a bachelor’s degree in history and a minor in legal studies. While in school, Officer Hart completed an internship with the American Red Cross. Officer Hart comes to the WPD from Kaztronix, a Woodbridge Township-based staffing company where he worked as a recruiter. Officer Hart graduated from the Monmouth County Police Training Academy upon completion of the requisite sixmonth New Jersey Police Training Commission police officer training course. Officer Hart is assigned to the Radio Patrol Division.
Police Officer Matthew Edward Dougherty: Officer Dougherty, 23, is a lifelong resident of the Colonia section of Woodbridge Township. Officer Dougherty is a 2010 graduate of Colonia High School. Officer Dougherty comes to the WPD from the Springfield Township Police Department where he was employed as a police officer. Officer Dougherty previously attended the John H. Stamler Police Academy and completed the requisite six-month New Jersey Police Training Commission police officer training course. Officer Dougherty will assume patrol responsibilities assigned to the Radio Patrol Division.