Bayonne City Clerk Madelene Medina administered the oath of office to eight new police officers during a ceremony held in the City Council Chambers in City Hall. The new officers were appointed last summer, on July 11, 2024, and recently graduated from the police academy.
The newly sworn in police officers are Shannon Dwyer, Jaiden Gonzalez, Nikolas Capurso, Cody Baran, Youssif Girgis, Joseph Hojnacki, Jonathan Hernandez, and Vincent Mattiello Jr.
Officer Shannon Dwyer is a graduate of Bayonne High School. As an undergraduate at Montclair State University, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Jurisprudence, Law, and Society. She is continuing her education at Montclair State, where she is pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Law and Governance.
Officer Jaiden Gonzalez is a graduate of Bayonne High School. Before becoming a police officer, he worked in the building trades with International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Union Local 164.
Officer Nikolas Capurso is a graduate of Bayonne High School. He continued his education at New Jersey City University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Fire Science. Prior to joining the Bayonne Police Department, he worked in security for the Bayonne Board of Education.
Officer Cody Baran is a graduate of Bayonne High School. He began his law enforcement career with the Seaside Heights Police Department in 2022. Then he served as a Hudson County Sheriff’s Officer before becoming a Bayonne Police Officer.
Officer Youssif Girgis is a graduate of James J. Ferris High School. He earned an associate’s degree in Engineering Science at Hudson County Community College. He is continuing his education at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, where he is studying Computer and Electrical Engineering.
Officer Joseph Hojnacki is a graduate of Bayonne High School. He is a third-generation police officer.
Officer Jonathan Hernandez is a graduate of Bayonne High School. He continued his education at Hudson County Community College, where he pursued a degree in Business. Before becoming a police officer, he was a locomotive engineer for New Jersey Transit.
Officer Vincent Matiello, Jr. is a graduate of County Prep High School.
There was also a special ceremony during the second part of the program, as Dawson Palmarini was made an honorary police officer and an honorary firefighter for the City of Bayonne.
Back on July 20, 2019, at the age of 17, Palmarini was in a serious motorcycle accident on Route 37 in Toms River. He hit a car and went about thirty feet into the air and flew the width of the side street. When first responders arrived on scene, they found Palmarini unresponsive. Life-saving measures were performed on the roadway until he was airlifted to the Jersey Shore Medical Center. He suffered three traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, and spent a month in the hospital.
After he was released from the hospital, Palmarini faced a long road to recovery. He has made tremendous progress over the past five years. A City press release states, “He has made it his goal to visit every police, fire, and EMS agency in the State of New Jersey, so that he can thank all of the emergency services personnel for the work that they do. He is trying now to enter the Guinness Book of World Records by seeing how many agencies make him an honorary police officer, firefighter, or EMT.”
Bayonne Police Lieutenant Steven Rhodes presented Honorary Officer Palmarini with an individualized badge and plaque. Fire Chief Keith Weaver also took part in the ceremony, and appointed Palmarini an Honorary Firefighter.