Hoboken Hires 6 New Police: See Who They Are

HOBOKEN, NJ — Six new Hoboken police officers were sworn in during a ceremony at City Hall on Monday.

They will now take part in four months of field training before being assigned to the Hoboken Police Department’s Uniform Patrol Bureau, which responds to approximately 100,000 calls a year.

The new officers, who graduated from the Hudson County Police Academy last week, include Stephen Chowanec, Vincent Guastini Jr., Ahmed Makshat, Donovan Ortiz, Mario Rodriguez, and David Smentkowski.

“I want to thank not only the new officers, but also their families, for their commitment and the sacrifices they’ll no doubt be making as they begin this important new chapter,” said Mayor Ravi Bhalla. “These six new officers will play an important role in making Hoboken an even safer city to live and work."

“This class reflects the City and Police Department’s commitment to recruit and hire qualified officers, amidst a nationwide challenge of doing so,” said Public Safety Director Ken Ferrante. “Each of these young men brings valuable experience to the HPD, strengthening the force and allowing it to even better serve the community.”

Some police departments across the country have had difficulties recruiting and retaining police (read more here).

The city had also proposed an increase in the HPD’s Table of Organization from 146 to 156 officers, allowing the hiring of 10 more officers. The department also will foot patrols and enhance police visibility throughout the city, the city said.

The city is hoping to hire early next year. For more information on how to become a Hoboken police officer, and to learn more about the Hoboken Police Department, visit www.hobokenpdnj.gov.

‍“The job of police officer is not an easy one, but it is a very important one,” said Police Chief Steven Aguiar.