|
CHANGING OF THE GUARDS FOR BRICK POLICE
LONGTIME BRICK POLICE CHIEF RETIRES; FOUR NEW OFFICERS SWORN IN
By Keith Hagarty
 | | --Photo By Keith Hagarty With four new officers added to the now 133-member force, and a new chief to be named in the coming weeks, the Brick Township Police Department will have a slightly new look in 2008. |
|
The search is on for a new chief of the Brick Township Police Department now that Ronald Dougard has retired from the post he's held since 1990.
With Dougard serving as township police chief for nearly two decades, Mayor Stephen Acropolis said whoever the new appointment is, they will have big shoes to fill.
"The chief came into my office and talked to me about it, and one of the things I said to him is that he's been the chief for a long time, and if someone sees him walking down the street, they're not going to say, 'oh, there's Ron Dougard,' or 'there's Ron,' they're going to say, 'oh, there goes the chief.'"
Dougard has been a member of the township Police Department since 1972, starting out as a patrolman. His last official day on the job will be December 31, with a replacement expected to be named by Acropolis and the township council in the coming weeks.
After originally planning to retire next year, Acropolis said Dougard decided to say goodbye now, and enjoy his golden years.
"He already told me he has a trip planned for Alaska, and doing some other things," said Acropolis. "He's going to be enjoying his retirement."
The winds of change continued through the Police Department, as four new members of the force members were sworn in by the council last week. With the four new additions, there are now 133 uniformed police officers in Brick.
"Our Police Department does an exhaustive review of every applicant to ensure that our new officers meet the high standards required to be a Brick Township police officer," said Acropolis. "These four individuals have met those standards and I am confident that they will all become valuable assets to our Police Department."
The four new officers are John Daniel Gordon, Badge #237; Joseph Thomas Pacitti, Badge #238; Jennifer Lyn Sutton, Badge #239; and Joseph Louis Rossi, Badge #240.
Gordon, 28, served as a United States Marine in Iraq from August 2004 to February 2005. As a Marine, he earned numerous awards and citations, some of which include the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and National Defense Service Medal. He is currently a corporal in the Marine Reserves.
Pacitti, 22, has been employed by the Ocean County Department of Corrections for the past two years with an exemplary service record. His father, Vincent, is also a sergeant with the department.
Sutton, 26, is a graduate of Brick Township High School and Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. Her father is a retired Brick police sergeant.
Also a graduate of the Brick Township Public School District, Rossi, 23, has been employed by the Point Pleasant Police Department as a Class II special police officer. He is bi-lingual, speaking English and Spanish, with a sister who's a communications operator for the department, and an uncle who is also currently a Brick police officer.
The mayor welcomed the new officers, and applauded the ongoing efforts of the department, which has helped Brick establish itself as one America's safest cities.
"These officers are joining the finest law enforcement agency in the state of New Jersey," said Acropolis. "These officers have to work to uphold the fine tradition and reputation that has been established since the Brick Township Police Department was established nearly four decades ago. I am confident they have what it takes to do that."
| 
)