Hazlet Gains 9 New Officers, All Hazlet Natives

Hazlet Police Department veteran Det. Lt. Charles McBride retired this month, just as Hazlet welcomed nine new officers onto the force.

At an Aug. 6 Township Committe meeting, Mayor Joseph Belasco honored McBride's 27 years on the force.

“Men like this are what makes Hazlet one of the greatest places to live,” Belasco said, according to NJ.com. “Watch him. Emulate him – and I tell you what, Hazlet will be great.”

Richard Jaeger, Patrick Kiley, Nicholas Logothetis,, Nicholash Greene, Patrick Wood, Robert Dickens, Dane Frattalone, Richard Wilhelm and Charleigh Dufford were sworn in to the force.

Police Chief James Broderick said at one point, the department had 50 officers, but retirements have brought the force down to 30.

"These new officers will bring us up to 39. They  all have to successfully complete a 22 week police academy, and an additional 15 weeks of field training before they can patrol the township.  They should be ready to go by late April or early May of 2014," Broderick said.

The new officers will go through a one year training process.

All new officers are Hazlet residents, as per township ordinance. Seven of the nine officers graduated from Raritan High School.