The North Bergen Police Department welcomed the first new class of recruits to the department for 2022 during a ceremony held this afternoon in the Town Hall Commission Chambers. Police Chief Peter Fasilis, Mayor Nicholas Sacco and the Board of Commissioners welcomed the four, new recruits, who took their oaths of office before members of the department, family and friends.
The new officers sworn in this afternoon consist of three men and one woman. They are Victoria M. Martin, Ismael Gonzalez, Bryan I. Pesantez and George Diaz. All are North Bergen residents, as per town ordinance, and all graduated from North Bergen High School.
Martin worked for three years as a NBPD communications officer. Her father is a retired township police officer. Gonazalez previously worked for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York/New Jersey in their police department. Pesantez was previously employed by the NBPD as a part time dispatcher. He is currently a security guard for the North Hudson Community Action Corporation. Finally, Diaz serves in the New Jersey Army National Guard and is the Chief Range Safety Officer at Longshot Pistol and Rifle.
The recruits will now head to the Bergen County Police Academy for 22 weeks of training. According to Chief Fasilis, the recruits are replacing retirees. There are approximately 120 full time officers in the Department.