The Brookdale Police Department welcomed two new officers two its ranks on Nov. 2 during a official ceremony in the President’s office in Lincroft.
Joined by family members, area dignitaries and their new Brookdale colleagues, officers Rocco Belloni and Scott Tait were sworn into their new position by Brookdale President Dr. Maureen Murphy.
“Today is a very special day,” Murphy said. “One of the points of pride we have here at Brookdale is our police department. Our officers really bring something special to our campus community and our students really benefit from it. They are part of our community, they are part of our educational process, and I think it makes us stronger. So swearing in two new officers is really a wonderful occasion.”
New Brookdale Police Officer Rocco Belloni signs his oath of office in Lincroft on Nov. 2.
Those comments were echoed by Monmouth County Freeholder John Curley, who also serves as county liaison to Brookdale and the Monmouth County Police Academy.
“There is a special breed here,” Curley said. “These are individuals who have dedicated themselves to a very special type of policing: community policing.
“t’s not your typical policing that you would see at the state or even the municipal level,” he added. “You are serving a unique group of individuals. It’s exciting to see young people put these badges on and serve and protect not only ourselves but our families and our property. I want to congratulate both Scott and Rocco for your achievement this afternoon, and I wish you the very best.”
Tait, of Montclair, formerly worked with the Essex County Sheriff’s Office and the Montclair Township Police Department. Belloni, of Freehold Township, previously worked with the New Jersey Department of Corrections and the metro division of the Camden County Police Department.
Both new officers said they were excited to get work as members of the Brookdale community.
“It feels great,” Belloni said. “Even just walking in it feels like a great atmosphere, like everyone is a tight knit family. I love community policing, and I love just talking to people. So I think this is a great position for us.”
Brookdale Police Captain Robert Kimler said the new probationary officers will be a great fit at Brookdale.
“They are both very family-oriented and very community-oriented,” Kimler said. “They have great experience coming in, and that experience will serve them well here. We have high hopes for them.”
Check out more photos of the ceremony here.