The township of North Bergen celebrated the swearing-in of 11 Special Law Enforcement Officer Class II (SLEO II) recruits in a ceremony held in Town Hall chambers on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. The event, attended by a packed room of family, friends, and community members, marked a significant milestone as the largest SLEO II class in the township’s history took their oaths of office.

Sworn in at the ceremony were Class II Special Recruits Christopher A. Castillo, Mark A. Cerqueira. Gabriel V. Choche, Moufid Hatoum, Jason J. Lopez, Enrique Marrero III, Kayleen Ocasio, Sebastian Perez-Messina, Nicholas Pino-Riquelme, Sandy E. Santos Jr., and Jeffrey Santos-Garcia.

Mayor Nicholas Sacco administered the oath of office, expressing pride in the newest additions to the township’s law enforcement family. The ceremony was attended by an array of government officials and community leaders, underscoring the importance of the event. Joining Mayor Sacco were Commissioner of Public Safety Allen Pascual, Police Chief Robert Farley, Commissioners Anthony Vainieri and Claudia Rodriguez, County Commissioner Bob Baselice, and Assemblymember Julio Marenco, among others.

The newly sworn officers will soon begin their training at the police academy, preparing them for their roles in maintaining public safety and upholding the law.

This historic moment reflects North Bergen’s continued commitment to enhancing public safety and fostering a strong connection between law enforcement and the community.

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