BY PAUL HUMMEL
CORRESPONDENT
HILLSDALE, N.J.––A lifelong resident of the borough has been sworn in as the newest police officer in Hillsdale.
Joseph Green, who graduated from St. John’s Academy and Pascack Valley Regional High School, is the newest officer on the force, after he was sworn in by Mayor Doug Frank at the Aug. 8 council meeting.
Green, who will wear Badge No. 81 as a probationary officer, which starts with a salary of $31,500, was introduced by Chief Robert Francaviglia to a crowd of friends, family and fellow officers who packed the municipal chambers for the event.
Green graduated Rutgers University with a degree in criminal justice and then graduated from the police academy in May 2016. For the past year, he worked as a Class 2 special officer in Cape May City, where he was also certified as a telecommunications officer/dispatcher.
With that experience under his belt, he applied for a position as probationary officer with the Hillsdale Police Department.
“He’s from Hillsdale and he had experience beforehand in Cape May,” said Francaviglia. “He rose to the top and will be successful as one of our newest officers.”
As a hometown boy made good, Green said he was gratified to be working in the borough.
“I’m really excited to start working here and finally become a full-time police officer, especially here in Hillsdale,” he said. “It’s even sweeter when it’s your hometown.”
Francaviglia also took time to publicly congratulate his officers on the successful National Night Out that took place on Aug. 1 at Memorial Field.
“I want to thank the force for their work on National Night Out,” he said. “The National Night Out was a success. I think over 800 people attended the event. I want to especially thank [Police Officer] Alex Kaplan for organizing the event.”
Francaviglia also mentioned to the Pascack Press a few days after the Aug. 8 meeting that a new lieutenant and sergeant will be sworn in during a council meeting in October.
The chief stated that both candidates have completed the selection process but their names will be revealed during their formal swearing-in process in October. The force currently has no lieutenant, who will be third in command under Francaviglia and Capt. Sean Smith. There are four sergeants in the department.