Berkeley Hires Six New Police Officers

Berkeley Township is now up to the full compliment of 70 sworn police officers.

Six new officers were sworn in at the July 24 Township Council meeting.

"We have fluctuated between 64 and 66 waiting for the state to certify the Civil Service exam," Mayor Carmen F. Amato Jr. said. "We will be replacing those who are and who have retired."

The new officers include:

Michael R. Zilavetz, 32, Bayville. He has an associate's degree from Ocean County College. He served in the U.S. Navy from 2009 to June 2013 and was a Master at Arms at Guantanamo. He has been a Port Authority police officer since March 2014.

Christopher Walters, 27, Bayville. He is a 2007 graduate of Central Regional High School. He attended the United Association of New Jersey Air Conditioning from August 2013 to the present.

Derek Mayer, 27, Bayville. He is a 2008 graduate of Central Regional High School. He has attended Thomas Edison State University from August 2015 and has been enrolled in the American Public University System since August 2016.

Mark Osworth, 29, Bayville. He is a 2006 graduate of Central Regional High School. He attended the Ocean County Vocational Technical School from December 2007 to May 2008 and completed an apprentic plumbing program. He has worked in the heating and air conditioning field from 2006 until the present.

Shane Leighton, 23, Bayville. He is a 2012 graduate of Central Regional High School. He has an associates degree from Ocean County College and graduated cum laude from Kean University in May 2017. He has also been working part-time with the Toms River Police Department as a Class 1 booking officer.

Robert K. Kennedy, 29, Bayville. He is a 2010 graduate of Central Regional High School and a 2015 graduate of Montclair State University. His last employment was with Unique Systems of America.

Image: Courtesy of Berkeley Township