ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J.—On Dec. 23, 2019, four new police officers were sworn into the Englewood Cliffs Police Department: Patrolman Brendan Zevits, Patrolman Nicholas Regan, Patrolman Joseph Farrelly and Patrolman Pete Rampersad.
Over 80 friends and family members, as well as many fellow officers, attended the ceremony at the Englewood Cliffs courthouse.
Mayor Mario Kranjac and Chief William Henkelman praised the new recruits.
“It’s taken a long road and a lot of hard work to get here,” Kranjac said. “These four young men distinguished themselves from a very large pool of candidates. They are the best of the best!”
Kranjac continued, “The police officers already on the force have the responsibility to train the new officers and make them the best they can be.”
Henkelman added, “This is a big night for us! It is very exciting to welcome four new officers to our department. That wouldn’t have happened without the support of Mayor Kranjac, the members of the council and the borough administrator. I thank all of them for their help.”
Henkelman explained the process by which the officers were selected.
“They had to take a two-and-a-half-hour written exam issued by the New Jersey State Police Association. It was followed by a grueling physical exam and assessment run by the Police Academy. They were further scrutinized by a thorough background investigation and finally an oral interview.”
The Hon. Judge Marc Saperstein delivered the oath of office to each officer as a family member held the Bible. Other family members stood by proudly.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Councilman Dr. Ed Aversa, the council’s police liaison, spoke highly of the new officers.
“These candidates are all top notch!” he said.
Patrolman Zevits, Badge #146, is a Camden County Police Academy Alternate Route Graduate.
Patrolman Regan, Badge #147, is also a Bergen County Police Academy Alternate Route Graduate. Both his father and grandfather served in the Englewood Cliffs Police Department.
Patrolman Farrelly, Badge #148, was a police officer in Wallkill, N.Y. and resigned from his position there prior to his swearing in.
Patrolman Rampersad, Badge #149, is attending Bergen County Police Academy in January.