This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Politics & Government

Seven Cops Sworn Into Duty, Officers Honored for Service

Two officers also promoted, four recognized for 'extraordinary service,' chief honored

Tuesday was a special evening for the Morristown Bureau of Police.

Not only were seven new police officers sworn into duty and two officers promoted to sergeant at Town Council's meeting, four officers were recognized for “extraordinary service,” and the chief  was honored for 30 years of service to Morristown.

Families and friends crowded into the council chambers to see the seven officers take their oaths. The seven officers are Michael Alberto, James Green, Emmanuel Maragonis, David Gizzi, Diego Alvarado, Darius Harrison and Robert Edwards.

Find out what's happening in Morristownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Chief Peter Demnitz, who said that he considers his officers as an “extended family,”  thanked the mayor and council for putting “seven cops on the street.” The seven positions, long vacant, were filled through attrition. The rookies graduated from the Morris County Police Academy in December.

Promoted to sergeant were Tyrone Jackson and Richard Lamperti.

Find out what's happening in Morristownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

One of the new officers, Green, also was one of the officers recognized for extraordinary service. On Feb. 12, the chief explained, Green was on a training patrol with Officer Kevin Beal when they interrupted a daytime burglary in process at an Atno Avenue residence. Also honored for his role in the arrest was Detective Brendan Briscoe.

The chief said that because there had been a rash of burglaries in town, a citizen called police to report a suspicious man that matched a description of a suspect. Beal and Green worked with Briscoe to track the man to a home where he was found inside in possession of several pieces of jewelry.

Also honored on Tuesday night was Officer Jermaine Marbley for his actions during a late-night altercation on Abbett Avenue on May 28, 2012. In the melee involving about nine people, two of the men were carrying baseball bats and then one man, after he was struck by a bat, pulled out a handgun and fired. The man, later identified as 26-year-old Dustin Bradley of Rockaway, then pointed the gun at the man who had struck him.

When Marbley arrived at the scene, the men fled on foot, including Bradley who dropped the gun. Marbley was able to recover the gun and police, and after interviewing witnesses, identified Bradley.

Bradley has since pleaded guilty in connection with the incident, the chief said.

The chief  said that the PBA chides him for not giving out more awards. “We do our job quietly,” he said.

Mayor Tim Dougherty presented Demnitz with a proclamation honoring his 30 years with the police.

Demnitz, born and raised in Morristown, joined the police in February 1983.

 “He’d rather not be up here,” the mayor said, adding that he has known Demnitz for 20 years. “We’re very fortunate to have a chief like Pete Demnitz.”

“I like coming to work every day,” Demnitz said. “”Morristown is a great group of people.”

Demnitz added that one of the reasons he stays on the job is that when he walks down the street, people thank him for doing his job.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?