Community Corner

A Staple Of The Community: East Brunswick Officer Retires After 26 Years Of Service

Robert Zielinski was also a part of East Brunswick's volunteer fire department for many years.

Lt. Robert Zielinski (center) with his family and local officials during Monday's council meeting.
Lt. Robert Zielinski (center) with his family and local officials during Monday's council meeting. (Township of East Brunswick)

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ – Lt. Robert Zielinski spent 26 years in service to East Brunswick.

On Monday, the township celebrated him as he retired from the East Brunswick Police Department. His retirement is effective March 1. Town Council expressed gratitude for his service and wished him well in retirement.

Zelensky joined the department as a patrol officer on March 8, 1999, and was promoted to detective in 2010, sergeant in 2014, and lieutenant in 2019.

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His service spans nearly 26 years, marked by exemplary dedication and leadership.

Councilman James Wendell also noted Zielinski’s contributions to the community through his volunteer work with the fire department.

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“Rob is not only a servant to the town through the police department, but he's been on the fire department for many, many, many years,” Wendell said. “So, these 25 years are extended far more through his service, through the volunteer fire department, and he's owed a sincere debt of gratitude.”

Police Chief Frank LoSacco congratulated Zielinski on a “well-earned and well- deserved retirement” and said he is a “staple” of the East Brunswick community

"There's actually farmland named after him,” Losacco said. “Rob has been the staple of East Brunswick. I heard someone once say that when you cut a person, sometimes they bleed green, the green and white of East Brunswick - that's Rob Zielinski..”

Throughout his successful career, Zielinski not only raised to the level of Lieutenant, but he also commanded the police department’s SWAT team.

The police chief went on to say that Zielinski was “very hard to replace.”

“It's been a pleasure growing up in this town and serving this town for 26 years. The men and women of the agency are second to none,” Zielinski said.

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