NORTH BRUNSWICK – The community of North Brunswick is increasing security measures by hiring a patrolman, adding special police officers and increasing its panel of judges.
The North Brunswick Police Department has increased its manpower to 83 officers with the hiring of Sean P. McCorry, who was administered the oath of office during a council meeting on June 26.
McCorry graduated from the Cape May County Police Academy on June 9. He had previously worked as a foreman for Ironworkers Local 11 for North Jersey Rebar, according to information provided by the mayor’s office.
He attended Middlesex County College and the New York Institute of Technology.
The police department also announced a shared service agreement with the township Board of Education to employ Class III Special Law Enforcement Officers, a class which was created by the state legislature in late 2016. This position allows retired police officers to provide school security and work under the jurisdiction of the police department, according to Police Captain Brian Hoiberg.
Phil A. Terranova, Jr., a captain from the Perth Amboy Police Department; Morris S. Clay, Jr., who spent 28 years with the Rahway Police Department and who has been part of the RPO (retired police officer) program in North Brunswick since its inception four years ago; and Robert D. Conroy, a 26-year member of the Rahway Police Department, were sworn in during the council meeting.
Also working as Class III officers are Anthony R. Falcone, David M. Krause, Steven J. Dunkel, Anthony D. Giordano and Leonard E. Hibbitts. Hoiberg said the department plans to hire additional officers before the start of the school year.
“This will ensure a safe place to learn and ensure a safe place to work,” Superintendent of Schools Brian Zychowski said.
When he first joined the school district in 2007, Zychowski said he realized that “we better create a better relationship with the police.”
“The environment needed to be changed,” he said, noting that soon thereafter the school district hired retired North Brunswick Police Capt. Mike Misurell as the director of security, and received three grants totaling more than $250,000 for cameras, computers and security protocol, all without impacting taxpayers.
“We have to make sure the environment is educationally friendly and security-enriched,” Zychowski said.
In addition, retired North Brunswick Police Sgt. Mark Ventola was sworn in as a Class II Special Law Enforcement Officer.
“Class II officers are put in place simply to assist the police officers, putting their training and experience to good use,” Hoiberg said.
Afterward, Judge Christine Heitmann, Judge Joseph Lombardi and Judge Spero A. Kalambakas were administered the oath of office.
Heitmann is the presiding judge in North Brunswick, followed by Lombardi who joined six months ago and Kalambakas who is fairly new.
“I think with the experience of all of the judges now – and Judge Lombardi’s trial experience and court experience can’t be missed as a municipal judge … I think we have a great team now,” Lombardi said.
She also thanked Court Administrator Sheral Rossmann and the police department for their continued working relationship with the judges.
Contact Jennifer Amato at [email protected].