Law Enforcement Career Open House A First In Freehold Borough

FREEHOLD, NJ — If you are curious about a job in law enforcement, the Freehold Police Department is happy to answer your questions at an upcoming open house.

The department is facing "multiple, pending retirements" this year, it said in a recent posting about job openings.

And on March 21, the department is hosting it first-ever Freehold Borough Police Open House.

It will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. that day at Freehold Borough Hall, 30 Mechanic St., Freehold 07728

You can meet local police officers and leave with information helpful for securing a position in law enforcement, the department says.

Officers will be available to answer questions and offer information related to:

• Entry-level testing
• Hiring/background process.
• Minimum requirements.
• What to expect during an interview.

Email Lt. Rich Ciampa at ciampar@freeholdpolice.org to learn more about this event.

Ciampa said one goal of the open house is informational: "We hope to offer useful tips that will help to remove some uncertainty about a demanding hiring process, which can sometimes become overwhelming," he said.

He said the department hires from an exam administered annually by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission.

"The window for applying for the test is typically open during the month of March, so not only will we be on hand to talk with potential candidates and answer questions, we will have computers ready for anyone who wishes to complete an online application to take the exam," he said.

Another goal of the event is community building, he said.

"Our agency places high value on the many partnerships established between the police department and our community and this event aims to building relationships with the next generation of young adults, while also helping to prepare potential future police officers," Ciampa said.

The department has recently posted hiring notices.

It has immediate openings for full- and part-time certified Class II SLEO (Special Law Enforcement Officers), with consideration for Class "A" to fill "multiple, pending retirements" in the spring and summer of 2024, the department said.

Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to Capt. Ronnie Steppat at steppatr@freeholdpolice.org.

The department has had recent retirements, and even current officers may be called for military duty in certain instances.

Nationally, recent statistics show a decline in police and government workers since the pandemic.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census Bureau data shows that from March 2020 to August 2022, the number of government workers dropped by 5 percent, while the number of local law enforcement employees decreased by 4 percent, according to a report by the Marshall Project, a nonprofit journalism website about criminal justice.

All departments deal with regular turnover from retirements, new hires and promotions.

The Freehold Police Department Facebook page recently posted the retirement of Officer Sean Healey, who received a proclamation from the Mayor and Borough Council in January, upon his retirement earlier this year after 25 years of service.

"Through the years he has worn many hats such as Patrolman, Traffic Safety Officer, Field Training Officer and one of the founding members of the Youth Police Academy," the department said about Healey.

Also, the department posted information that another officer, Patrolman Ian Crawford, was posted overseas for a year with the U.S. Army 340th Military Police Company. "We are extremely appreciative of your service and commitment to serving our country. See you in a year, cowboy!" the department said.

The department also has a Faith & Blue Initiative, to strengthen its role in the community through work with faith-based organizations.

At the Jan. 16 Freehold Borough Council meeting, Police Chaplains Reverend Ronald Sparks, pastor of Bethel AME Church, and Imam Omer Kadri, of the Dibra Community Center, were introduced by the Rev. Lyddale Akins of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office and officially sworn in by Mayor Kevin Kane before Chief Craig Dispenza and officers of the Freehold Borough Police Department, the department said.

The state of New Jersey also takes an interest in the hiring in police departments throughout the state.

According to the New Jersey Attorney general's Office, under a 2020 law, "each law enforcement agency in New Jersey is also required to establish a program designed to ensure every agency is 'comprised of law enforcement officers who reflect the diversity of the population of the community the agency is charged with protecting.'" Departments must also "annually report demographic information about officers serving and applying for employment or promotion."

You can view a chart from the Attorney General's Office that will provide local Freehold statistics on race and ethnicity in the department by clicking here. Download the "Officer" file, filter your search by town to see the full data for the borough or any other municipality. The latest figures listed are from 2022.