MANALAPAN — Three veteran officers in the Manalapan Police Department have been promoted to a new rank.
During a meeting of the Township Committee on Nov. 30, Mayor Susan Cohen, Deputy Mayor Mary Ann Musich, Committeeman Jack McNaboe, Committeeman Barry Jacobson and Committeeman Eric Nelson voted “yes” on a motion to approve the promotions.
Dominick Donatelli Jr. was promoted from detective to the rank of sergeant; Eric Voorand was promoted from patrolman to the rank of sergeant; and Charles Alaimo was promoted from patrolman to the rank of sergeant.
Each officer was then sworn in to his new position, joined by family members as officers from the police department looked on in the meeting room at the Manalapan municipal building.
Cohen asked Police Chief Edward Niesz to address those in attendance and Niesz said, “I want to thank the Township Committee for moving forward (with the promotions) and for addressing our (department’s) retirements and our growing community.”
Niesz said being a sergeant is “one of the most rewarding and one of the hardest jobs here.”
Addressing Voorand, Donatelli and Alaimo, the police chief said, “I look forward to watching you grow, to watching your leadership styles and to watching you protect and develop our community.”
Deputy Chief Leonard Maltese said Voorand has been a police officer with the Manalapan Police Department for 16 years.
He is a firearms instructor, a member of the Monmouth County Emergency Response Team, a less lethal instructor, an active shooter instructor and a firearms registration officer.
Voorand was the Manalapan Police Department’s Officer of the Year for 2021. He has received three Exceptional Duty Awards, a Meritorious Service Award, a Gallantry Award, a Unit Citation, a Combat Cross from the Monmouth-Ocean County Intelligence Bureau and a 200 Club Valor Award.
Maltese said Donatelli has 24 years of law enforcement experience and 21 years of service with the Manalapan Police Department. He previously served with the Brookdale Community College Police Department.
Donatelli is a traffic safety officer, a police cadet adviser, a detective, an emergency vehicle operations instructor, a firearms instructor, a member of the Monmouth County Serious Collision Analysis Response Team, an evidence officer, a firearms registration officer, a fatal crash investigator, an active shooter instructor, a radar instructor and a member of the Accident Review Board.
Donatelli has received an Exceptional Duty Award and an Education Award. He was the Manalapan Police Department’s 2012 Officer of the Year.
Maltese said Alaimo has been a police officer with the Manalapan Police Department for 20 years.
Alaimo previously served as a detective, as an Alcohol Beverage Commission officer, as a gang activity reporting officer and as a Megan’s Law officer.
Alaimo has received three Exceptional Duty Awards, an Education Award and a Grand Cordon Award.
Maltese said in their new roles as sergeants, Voorand, Donatelli and Alaimo will provide front line supervision to officers who are assigned to the Manalapan Police Department’s Patrol Bureau.