New police officers heading to Newark for training

LONG BRANCH — The city is still short on police personnel despite the nine new officers recently hired, according to the city’s public safety director.

The Long Branch Police Department currently has 91 officers which includes the new hires. Over the past year 11 officers have left the department, either through retirement or to pursue other work.

"We are about nine officers short," said Lou Napoletano, public safety director.

The city’s programs such as the street crimes unit, TRIAD and neighborhood watch are feeling the pinch. City events, said Napoletano, such as Oceanfest, car shows and parades need manpower which typically is not available.

Napoletano plans to approach the City Council next year to get at least five new officers onto the streets.

The department, which is currently operating on a $7 million budget, based on 99 officers, is primarily funded by the city’s capital budget, with some financing obtained through the Urban Enterprise Zone and federal funding.

Violent crimes in Long Branch, which encompass aggravated assault, robbery, murder as well as drugs, have declined considerably in the last seven years, according to Napoletano. "We have accomplished this by using manpower in proactive measures," he said.

An example would be placing officers in known problem areas to preclude potential problems like robbery or drug activity.

"Most of the time crime is driven out of the city’s boundaries," said Napoletano. "Basically it boils down to one thing — zero tolerance."

With more officers on the beat, Napoletano looks to increase patrols in the public housing sectors, expand the traffic bureau to a full-time status, and extend the bicycle patrol through the winter.

A full-time officer trained in computer use to handle technological areas and confidential information would also benefit the department, the public safety director said.

Until then, the department’s nine new officers, six men and three women, all Long Branch residents, will be placed in the patrol division after completing 20 weeks of training at the Newark Police Academy.

Each recruit has passed a civil service test and was chosen out of 35 potential applicants.

According to Lt. Joseph Aflitto, who sat on the review board with five other Long Branch officers, "Good judgment, discretion, honesty and integrity are important in the selection process, as well as training related to police work, job skills, educational background, military training, emergency services training or class two officers

While in training, the officers will receive $24,770. After graduation, the salary is increased to $30,961 for one year with automatic raises up to seven years.

Raises, according to Napoletano, will vary according to individual contracts.

Officers in training will purchase their own equipment and clothing while the city will supply a handgun and $1 per recruit as an entrance fee to the Newark Academy.

Although officers traditionally have been trained at the Sea Girt Police Academy and the Monmouth County Police Academy in Freehold Township, Napoletano has said Newark ranks higher for training to meet the specific needs of the city, especially since the Sea Girt academy is now exclusively training state officers.

Newark’s full-time professional instructors sealed the decision for Napoletano. "Newark gives a better product," he said.

The nine officers hired are Christopher Grant, David Graminski, Nicholas Cattelona, Jennifer Hernandez, Joan Kobuszewski, Brian Garrett, Alfred Cistaro, Kimberly Leavy and Michael Verdadeiro.