TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON, N.J.—A massive crowd of well wishers greeted three police officers at a historic promotion ceremony Dec. 3.
There to cheer on Detective Heather Castronova, Sgt. Rio Fasciano, and Lt. A.J. Pecora were their brothers and sisters in Pascack Valley and Bergen County law enforcement, local scouts and Junior Police Academy members, and family members.
They packed the municipal courtroom and spilled back to the stairwell at the first floor of Borough Hall as the officers took their oaths of office. On hand were Detective John Calamari, Police Chief Glenn Hooper, Capt. Richard Skinner, and Police Director William Cicchetti.
Backing them at the dais were Councilman Art Cumming (Castronova’s father), Council President Michael DeSena, Administrator Robert Tovo, and Mayor Peter Calamari.
In the audience were Westwood Police Chief Michael Pontillo, retired Bergen County Police Chief Brian Higgins, retired Haworth Police Chief Chris Campbell, retired Cliffside Park Police Chief Don Kean, Hillsdale Police Capt. Sean Smith, and Englewood Police Capt. Tim Torell.
Bernard B. Kerik, retired New York City Police commissioner, who oversaw the city’s police response to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, attended as well.
He told a reporter that the promotions were well deserved and that he was there to support the officers.
He said one of his three children is a junior at Immaculate Heart Academy, and he’s impressed with the department’s response plans and its coordination with school leadership.
“The state police told me this department has one of the best response plans going. It can never be perfect but when you have members like this, as a parent it makes you feel a lot better,” he said.
Cicchetti noted the promotions were rigorously arrived at and due to exemplary job performance. He said more promotions are coming down the line.
“It’s a small department, so you’ll have to wait,” he said.
Skinner, introducing the officers by a reading of their records, beamed, “This is a true honor for me.”
He relayed the following:
Heather Castronova
Castronova, in her 17th year of service, is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. She was appointed to the department in 2002 as the township’s first female police officer.
She also recently became the first female member of Washington Township VFW Post 6192.
She serves as WTPD domestic violence liaison, juvenile officer, public information officer, DARE officer, LEAD instructor, and coordinator of the Junior Police Academy (a project Skinner handed off to Castronova after he was promoted).
She manages the community policing unit and implemented the TRIAD program. Over the past seven years she has had numerous adjunct assignments to the detective bureau.
She also has received numerous awards throughout her career, including the Irish Law and Order award, Outstanding Law Enforcement Professional, and an Exceptional Service Award.
In 2009, the township recognized Castronova for her part in seizing more than 60 illegal weapons.
She coordinated the first Relay for Life fundraiser in 2005, helping the department attain distinction as the top non-corporate fundraising team.
She is a Girl Scout Troop 6026 leader and is a founding moderator for the WT Moms Facebook group, which Skinner said is a great source of intel for the department.
Castronova, a township resident, was there with her husband, Anthony, a Paterson police officer (who had worked under Kerik on 9/11), and her two children, Gina and Anthony.
Rio Fasciano
Fasciano was appointed to the department in 1998 and is in his 21st year. Assigned to the detective bureau in 2002, he was promoted to corporal in 2005.
Fasciano coordinates the Office of Emergency Management and municipal counterterrorism efforts and is internal affairs Investigator, active shooter instructor, and armament systems and procedures instructor.
He implemented and coordinates the township’s Community Emergency Response Team. He manages the Swift Reach notification system, is assigned to the Bergen County Rapid Deployment Team, and is New Mexico Tech-trained in incident response and terrorist bombings.
Skinner noted Fasciano has received numerous in-service and CPR lifesaving awards throughout his career, including the BCPCA life-saving medal.
Fasciano, a lifelong resident of the township, graduated WHS in 1986 and is college educated.
He joined the fire department in 1993 and rose through lieutenant, captain, and assistant chief, finally serving as fire chief from 2005–2006. He is a life member and member of the New Jersey Honor Legion.
A.J. Pecora
Pecora, appointed to the police department in 1995, is in his 24th year. He made corporal in 2000 and sergeant in 2014.
He holds an associate’s degree, is firearms range master, firearms investigator, active shooter instructor, defensive tactics instructor, and field training officer.
Moreover, he’s certified through Texas A&M University as a school security assessment officer and is New Mexico Tech-certified as an instructor for incident response to terrorist bombings.
He attended training at the Drug Enforcement Administration Academy in Quantico, Va.
Pecora is assigned to the Bergen County Rapid Deployment Team, where he has served as squad leader since its inception. He also has received numerous CPR lifesaving awards throughout his career.
In 2009, the township recognized him for his part in seizing more than 60 illegal weapons.
Pecora is a past president of PBA local 206, Pascack Valley and is a trustee. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, a parishioner of OLGC, a volunteer for the PBA Toy Drive, and volunteered for many years as a coach for Dragons travel soccer.
Pecora holds a first-degree black belt in aki jujitsu, a second-degree black belt in sil jun do, and a blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
A township resident for 23 years, he is married to Jill and has two daughters: Vanessa and Mia.
Skinner took advantage of the opportunity to get in a plug for the annual PBA toy drive. Donations of new, unwrapped toys are welcome at the Township of Washington Police Department.
A reception followed at the Knights hall.