SHARE

New Saddle Brook Police Quintet Bring Youth, Experience, Diversity

SADDLE BROOK, N.J. -- One of five new Saddle Brook police officers sworn in Thursday night can begin work immediately.

New SBPD Officers Kimberly Diaz, Joseph Camilleri IV, Andres Morales, Anthony Davanzo, Attilio Dente Sr. REAR: Chief Robert Kugler, Mayor Robert White

New SBPD Officers Kimberly Diaz, Joseph Camilleri IV, Andres Morales, Anthony Davanzo, Attilio Dente Sr. REAR: Chief Robert Kugler, Mayor Robert White

Photo Credit: COURTESY: SB Police Chief Robert Kugler
Joseph Camilleri IV

Joseph Camilleri IV

Photo Credit: COURTESY: SB Police Chief Robert Kugler
Anthony Davanzo

Anthony Davanzo

Photo Credit: COURTESY: SB Police Chief Robert Kugler
Andres Morales

Andres Morales

Photo Credit: COURTESY: SB Police Chief Robert Kugler
Attilio Dente Sr.

Attilio Dente Sr.

Photo Credit: COURTESY: SB Police Chief Robert Kugler
Kimberly Diaz

Kimberly Diaz

Photo Credit: COURTESY: SB Police Chief Robert Kugler

Three of the others are former state corrections officers, while a fifth saw his father resign from the Township Council so that he could fulfill his dream.

Kimberly Diaz, 25, had been an officer with the Rutgers University Police Department on the Newark campus the past two years.

Because she's certified by the NJ Police Training Commission, Diaz she isn't required to go through the academy "and will commence her duties with the township immediately," Police Chief Robert Kugler said.

Diaz, who has a Summa Cum Laude Bachelors degree from Rutgers, also served as a community services security officer for the university and is currently enrolled in a Masters of Public Administration graduate program there.

She was sworn during a Township Council meeting by Mayor Robert White along with:

  • Attilio Dente, Sr., 34, a U.S. Navy veteran (2001-2005) and former state Department of Corrections senior corrections officer who served for 10 years and was assigned to Northern State Prison in Newark;
  • Andres Morales, 26, a graduate of John Jay College of Criminal Justice who was a special law enforcement officer with the Leonia Police Department the past year;
  • Anthony Davanzo, 22, a Magna Cum Laude bachelors degree graduate of criminal justice from Pace University and a former state corrections officer assigned to East Jersey State Prison in Rahway;
  • Joseph Camilleri IV, 23, a Cum Laude bachelors degree graduate of criminal justice from Pace University, a former state corrections officer assigned to Mountain View Youth Correctional Facility in Annandale (Hunterdon County) and a member of the Army National Guard since 2015.

Camilleri's grandfather, Raymond Curry Sr., has been an active and member of the township police reserve and special law enforcement officer since 1969.

His father, Joseph Camilleri III, was a former councilman forced to resign by the township's nepotism ordinance so that his son could fulfill his dream.

The five new officers will begin a week-long indoctrination with the department on Monday.

After that, all except Diaz will head to the Bergen County Law & Public Safety Institute in Mahwah to begin a 22-week basic training course as part of the police academy's 119th class.

Graduation is scheduled for Dec. 13.

"Saddle Brook is a NJ Civil Service jurisdiction," said Kugler, the police chief. "All eligible candidates are recommended and selected according to their scores on an entry-level competitive examination and after an extensive and exhaustive background investigation conducted by the department.

"This is a very privileged and proud moment for each of the officers and their families."

to follow Daily Voice Englewood and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE